From a nutrition perspective, per each one ounce serving: The chips have more calories (140 vs 110) and less protein (2g vs 7g) than the cheese—making cheese the winner.
Potato chips lack any significant nutritional value, therefore are empty calories, period. They're also are high in fat, and low in fiber and protein.
The Least Nutritious Snack Chip Options
A single serving of regular potato chips provides 160 calories, 10 grams of fat, 15 grams of carbohydrate, and 2 grams of protein. A single serving of Cheetos Crunchy provides 150 calories, 10 grams of fat, 13 grams of carbohydrate, 1 gram of sugar and 2 grams of protein.
"Most traditional potato chips are seasoned with a large amount of salt and oil. Like any junk food, they can be tolerated in small doses (to fill the palm of your hand). Larger doses are proven unhealthy and will quickly lead to weight gain," Dr. Parcells says.
Chips are fine to eat when consumed in moderation, but watch out for high sodium content and trans fats. Note serving sizes before digging into a bag of chips. Kale chips and popcorn are great alternatives to make at home. Crunchy fruit, vegetables, and nuts are other chip alternatives.
Bottom line: Although cheese is high in saturated fat and sodium, it is also rich in calcium and protein, and some fermented types contain probiotics. One can enjoy a modest amount of cheese as part of a healthful diet, but how it is eaten is key.
Cheese is a great source of protein and calcium but is often high in saturated fat and salt. This means eating too much could lead to high cholesterol and high blood pressure, increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
“If your diet, in general, is very low in saturated fats and sodium, having two to three ounces of cheese a day may be safe,” says Supan. “If you're trying to eat healthy or have any heart concerns, I would try to stick to one ounce of high-quality cheese a day, or maybe even less than that a few times a week.”
Cheese is loaded with artery-clogging saturated fat and cholesterol. Eating too much fat from animal-derived sources can lead to high cholesterol and heart disease.
Nancy Copperman, director of public health initiatives at North Shore - LIJ Health System in Great Neck, N.Y., says that both potato chips and Pringles aren't exactly healthy, but Pringles contain 2.5 times more saturated fat per serving, a worse type of fat.
You can gain weight.
If you happen to enjoy eating potato chips every day, there's a good chance you just might start packing on the pounds. See, researchers at Deakin University found that those who consume excess salt end up craving and eating more fatty foods overall.
Acrylamide is a chemical created in certain foods that are cooked at high temperatures. Because chips are sliced so thin and fried so hot, they're even heavier in acrylamide than French fries (which, sadly, 7 out of 9 experts warn against).
The Bottom Line. If you are not allergic to milk protein, enjoying cheese every day is fine. As with many foods, eating cheese in moderation may offer potential health benefits.
Feta contains more calcium than many other cheeses. Calcium helps you maintain healthy teeth and bones. Feta cheese also has high levels of phosphorus. Consuming these phosphorus and calcium together has been linked to improved bone density and osteoporosis prevention.
NEW research from the University of Adelaide suggests that dairy products could be a healthier source of protein than red meat. According to the research, protein-rich dairy products could be more effective in weight loss programs and provide better protection against colon cancer.
Studies of more than 660,000 people suggest that not all dairy is created equal when it comes to effects on our health. People who eat cheese tend to live longer, but drinking a lot of milk can lead to slightly higher rates of coronary heart disease and death.
So how much cheese is enough? Now that you know what happens when you consume large quantities of this very delicious food, let's tell you how much cheese is enough. The American Heart Association recommends eating no more than three portions of cheese per day, which each serving capped at 42 grams of cheese.
The best cheeses for heart disease are the ones with less saturated fat and sodium. Swiss cheese is probably the best choice, with only 53 mg of sodium per ounce. Mozzarella, goat and ricotta cheeses also fall on the lower side of the sodium scale, with about 130 milligrams per serving.