Health Benefits and Nutritional Value of Mascarpone Cheese

If you like cheese, you can't miss the mascarpone variety, especially for the preparation of creamy sauces and sweet desserts.

Written and verified by the nutritionist Saúl Sánchez Arias.

Last update: 03 October, 2022

Mascarpone cheese is a creamy dairy product that is used as the main ingredient in the preparation of certain sauces and desserts, such as tiramisu. It has a mild and neutral flavor that can be perfectly integrated into many different types of dishes. In addition, it has nutritional benefits, so it can be included in the diet on a frequent basis without any inconvenience.

Before starting, it should be noted that regular consumption of dairy products is recommended by almost all nutrition experts. These foods usually provide high-quality proteins and essential minerals that contribute to good health. Generally speaking, however, it’s advisable to prioritize the fermented ones, since they also contain probiotics. They can help take care of the microbiota.

Nutritional information on mascarpone cheese

Regarding nutritional value, each 28-gram (1 oz) serving of mascarpone cheese provides about 120 calories. It is, therefore, a high-calorie product. For this reason, you should include it in your diet with caution, in order to prevent fatty weight gain which would be problematic for your health.

As far as macronutrients are concerned, the greatest contribution comes from fats. The stipulated ration has 14 grams of this element and only 2 grams of protein. However, this protein is of high biological value. It doesn’t contain carbohydrates or sugars of any kind, and nor does it contain fiber.

Finally, mention must be made of calcium, as 28 grams (1 oz) of cheese cover 4% of the recommended daily amount of this important mineral. It’s an essential substance for the maintenance of a competent bone structure over the years. In this sense, regular consumption of dairy products and vegetables with calcium in them is recommended in order to prevent fractures and other alterations in bone health.

The benefits of mascarpone cheese

The proteins present in mascarpone cheese are of high biological value. This means that they contain all the essential amino acids and have a high digestibility score.

This will contribute to the maintenance of a healthy lean mass, preventing the development of chronic pathologies such as sarcopenia. This is according to a study published in BioMed Research International.

Calcium will be a key element in preventing osteoporosis. This pathology is more common in women who have already gone through menopause and greatly increases the risk of suffering bone fractures.

However, to ensure the correct assimilation of calcium, it’ll be necessary to ensure that the levels of vitamin D in the body are at optimum levels, as stated in a study published in Frontiers of Hormone Research.

We should point out that certain precautions must be taken when consuming mascarpone cheese. The first of these has to do with the importance of not adding sugar. This is difficult in the case of desserts, but you can still moderate its consumption.

This will improve metabolic health, as simple carbohydrates could negatively impact pancreatic function, especially in the case of sedentary people. A study published in Current Diabetes Reports confirms this.

Allergies to mascarpone cheese

It’s important to realize that people who are allergic to milk proteins cannot consume mascarpone cheese. In this case, they should look for an alternative to include in desserts or to prepare sauces. It’s true that this variety of cheese loses much of its whey, but it’s still considered a dairy product.

Even if lactose intolerance doesn’t exist, symptoms may develop after ingesting this food. The sugar content isn’t high, so some people will tolerate a certain amount in the diet. However, it’s best to test individual tolerance to see how well the body accepts the product.

Mascarpone cheese, a beneficial dairy

As you have seen, mascarpone cheese is a slightly special type of dairy that has some health benefits. It has less protein and more fat than other milk derivatives.

Nevertheless, it can be included with a certain frequency in your diet. However, as far as possible, sugar shouldn’t be added to avoid causing stress on the pancreas.

Finally, it should be noted that calcium intake should be optimized during all stages of life to prevent osteoporosis in the future. This entire disease is considered chronic and greatly affects people’s well-being. However, even once it has developed, it can be effectively treated by improving the diet and regular muscle strength training.