Love the flavor of Brie cheese? This story talks about the nutrition and calories in this soft French cheese made from cow's milk. Take a look!
Did You Know?
The cheese gets its name from Brie, a region in France, where it originated. The real French Brie or Brie de Meaux is nicknamed the "Queen of Cheeses."
Brie cheese is a popular French cheese that is pale yellow with a bloomy rind of white mold. The flavor of Brie cheese depends on the ingredients used, species of mold on the rind, and environment where it has matured.
The process of manufacturing Brie cheese is quite simple, and it involves adding rennet to whole or semi-skimmed milk, heating it up to 37°C to obtain the curd, and then pouring it into molds. After allowing it to drain for 18 hours, cheese molds are added to it, which are nothing but certain species of bacteria.
The most common species used for this purpose are Penicillium species, such as Penicillium candidum and Penicillium camemberti. The cheese is then left alone to mature for at least four to five weeks.
Brie Cheese Nutritional Facts
Brie cheese is similar to other French soft cheese, such as the Camembert. However, Brie cheese has a higher fat content. So, what is the number of calories in a slice of Brie cheese? Does it have any nutritional benefits? Let's find out.
Calories in Brie Cheese
The table given below shows the calories in various servings of Brie cheese.
Note that while 75% of the total calories comes from fats, only 25% comes from proteins.
Serving Size
Calories
1 cubic inch
57
1 oz
95
100 g
334
1 lb
1515
Nutritional Value of Brie Cheese
In this section, we shall look at the nutrients present in Brie cheese. The tables given below demonstrate the quantity of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, and vitamins present in 100 g of Brie cheese.
Nutrient and their Quantity
Water - 48.42 g Protein - 20.75 g Carbohydrates - 0.45 g Sugar - 0.45 g Total Fat - 27.68 g
Mineral and their Quantity
Calcium, Ca - 184 mg Iron, Fe - 0.50 mg Magnesium, Mg - 20 mg Sodium, Na - 629 mg Phosphorus, P - 188 mg Potassium, K - 152 mg Zinc, Zn - 2.38 mg Copper, Cu - 0.019 mg Manganese, Mn - 0.034 mg Selenium, Se - 14.5 mcg
Vitamin and their Quantity
Thiamine (B1) - 0.070 mg Riboflavin (B2) - 0.520 mg Niacin (B3) - 0.380 mg Pantothenic acid (B5) - 0.690 mg Vitamin B6 - 0.139 mg Folate (B9) - 65 mcg Vitamin B12 - 1.65 mcg Vitamin A - 592 IU Vitamin E - 0.24 mg Vitamin D - 20 IU Vitamin K - 2.3 mcg
You should avoid this cheese if you're on a diet or planning to lose weight, because the high content of saturated fat can cause blood cholesterol levels to shoot up. However, the good news is that Brie cheese is a rich source of calcium, which is good for your teeth and bones. It contains vitamin B12, which is good for muscles and nerve tissue.
Vitamin B2 and selenium present in Brie cheese act as powerful antioxidants, which neutralize the harmful effect of free radicals produced in the body and slow down the process of aging. However, the fairly high quantity of sodium can cause high blood pressure.
Brie cheese is best served at room temperature. Since it is rich in calories, you should, however, consume it in moderate quantities.