Who knew Undercover Superhero was a legitimate career choice for cheese? In our not-so-secret expose, we're revealing 16 high-protein cheeses that are putting those protein shakes to shame.

First up, parading in its centuries-old glory from the Parma region of Italy, is Parmesan. Delivering a whopping 8.45g of protein per ounce (or 10.22g if you choose the hard variant), this cheese is more than just a pizza's best friend. Plus, it punches hunger in the face and keeps it down for the count.

If Parmesan's punch is too strong for you, opt for its distant relative, Romano. Origination from around Rome, it offers a slight twist in taste and 9.08g protein per ounce. Bonus: This one even spruces up your bones with its high calcium content.

From the Swiss Alps, we bring you Gruyere; this raw milky wonder dishes out 8.51g of protein per ounce, while housing legions of friendly bacteria for your gut. Another Swiss offering is Swiss cheese, lighter in protein at 7.7g per ounce, but heaped with calcium and less sodium baggage.

Turning towards the Netherlands, we have the red or yellow wax-covered Edam, and the 800-year-old fan-favorite, Gouda. Both are protein powerhouses with 7.14g and 7.06g per ounce, respectively. Plus, they smothers lactose intolerance with barely-there lactose content.

In other corners of the cheese world, we have the muscle-building Provolone, the stretchy Mozzarella, the classic Cheddar, the American fusion Colby Jack, and the moldy-but-good Blue cheese. They're all packing protein ranging from 6.3g to 7.26g per ounce. And they boast of perks like probiotics, calcium, and slow-digesting casein protein.

Soft cheese lovers, we've got you covered too. Brie brings to the table a respectable 5.94g of protein per ounce and some heart-friendly goodies. Goat cheese, the creamy alternative for those who don't do cow's milk, nudges up 5.24g of protein per ounce. And age-old Feta secures 4.05g of protein per ounce, with a prominent supporting crew of strong bones, energy metabolism, and a healthy gut.

Down to our last two, the soft and creamy Ricotta and the versatile Cottage cheese, together offer up around 5.29g of protein per ounce (or about 21g per half cup!). Meaning they’re not only excellent weight-loss sidekicks but also your muscles' best mates after a grueling workout.

Now, of course, these protein-packed cheeses come with a side of saturated fat. So, if you're walking down health-obsessed lane, opt for low-fat versions or exercise portion control with higher-fat variants. But, whatever you do, don't deny yourself the delicious, nutritious, muscle-building power of these 16 super-cheeses. Go, embrace the cheese, without the guilt!