Mozzarella vs Feta - Health impact and Nutrition Comparison


Summary
For nutrition, mozzarella is a healthier and better option than feta. Mozzarella is lower in sodium, lower in fats and cholesterol. Mozzarella is richer in proteins, zinc, phosphorus, calcium, and vitamin A. Feta is richer in B complex vitamins.
Mozzarella is a healthier cheese than feta cheese since nearly all their health impacts are similar except that feta cheese is high in sodium, which increases risk factors of developing hypertension and complicates the outcome if hypertension exists.
Table of contents
Introduction
This article will compare two kinds of cheese: feta and mozzarella. We will talk about the difference between these cheeses regarding their nutritional content and health impacts. It is important to answer specific questions that food consumers frequently ask. One of the most important points is understanding which is a healthier cheese. Since both are white cheeses, is feta similar to mozzarella? At the end of this article, this question will be clarified based on nutrition and health impacts.
Nutritional content comparison
Calories
Feta and mozzarella contain similar amounts of calories. They are classified as moderate caloric foods.
Glycemic index
Feta and mozzarella have equal glycemic indices.
Carbs
They are both classified as low-carb foods. The difference between them is negligible.
Fats
Feta contains higher amounts of fat compared to mozzarella.
Cholesterol
Feta contains higher amounts of cholesterol compared to mozzarella.
Saturated fats
Feta contains 1.4 times more saturated fats than mozzarella.
Proteins
Mozzarella contains almost double the amount of proteins compared to feta. The amount of proteins is very significant.
Minerals
Feta is high in minerals such as zinc, phosphorus, and calcium.
Sodium
Feta is high in sodium, whereas mozzarella contains negligible amounts.
In the diagrams below, we can see the distribution of minerals in both foods.
Mineral Comparison
Vitamins
Feta has a richer vitamin profile, it is richer in B2, B5, B6, and B12. Whereas, mozzarella is richer in vitamin A.
In the diagrams below we can see the distribution of vitamins in both foods.
Vitamin Comparison
Health impacts
Feta cheese health impacts
Feta cheese has both positive and negative health impacts.
It is a rich source of calcium and phosphorus, which promotes overall bone health and reduces osteoporosis damage on bones. (1)
Feta cheese contains lactobacillus bacteria which improves overall gut microflora and helps with digestion. (2)
Feta cheese contains healthy fats such as conjugated linoleic acids with anticarcinogenic and antidiabetic properties. (3) (4)
Calcium-rich foods such as feta decrease the risk of colorectal cancer. (5)
It is also important to mention some bad health impacts that feta cheese might have.
Feta cheese contains lactose, which might cause inflammation in people with lactose intolerance. The sodium content of feta is linked with an increased risk of hypotension development.
Feta contains tyramine which reacts with MAO inhibiting medications. While taking these medications, feta cheese should not be consumed. (7)
There is an increased risk of prostate cancer development when high calcium foods are consumed. (8)
Mozzarella cheese health impacts
Mozzarella is rich in calcium which, as discussed for feta, promotes bone health and reduces damage caused by osteoporosis on bones. (1)
Calcium-rich foods such as mozzarella decrease the risk of colorectal cancer. (5)
Mozzarella contains lactobacilli which are probiotics that improve microflora and digestion. (9)
The adverse effects of mozzarella have similarities with feta's negative impacts. They will trigger an inflammatory response in lactose-intolerant individuals. They contain tyramine which should be taken with MAO inhibitors.
Prostate cancer risks are increased when high calcium foods are consumed. (8)
References
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24695889/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10849182/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002822304004316
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/088915759290037K
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12869397/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5098396/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2666453/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16522915/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22981567/
Infographic

Macronutrient Comparison
Fat Type Comparison
Comparison summary table
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Lower in Sugar |
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Lower in Sodium |
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Lower in Cholesterol |
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Lower in Saturated Fat |
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Lower in price |
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Rich in vitamins |
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Lower in glycemic index | Equal | ||
Rich in minerals | Equal |
All nutrients comparison - raw data values
Nutrient | ![]() |
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Opinion |
Net carbs | 3.1g | 4.09g |
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Protein | 27.5g | 14.21g |
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Fats | 17.1g | 21.28g |
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Carbs | 3.1g | 4.09g |
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Calories | 280kcal | 264kcal |
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Sugar | 1.23g | 4.09g |
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Calcium | 731mg | 493mg |
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Iron | 0.25mg | 0.65mg |
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Magnesium | 26mg | 19mg |
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Phosphorus | 524mg | 337mg |
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Potassium | 95mg | 62mg |
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Sodium | 16mg | 917mg |
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Zinc | 3.13mg | 2.88mg |
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Copper | 0.027mg | 0.032mg |
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Vitamin A | 517IU | 422IU |
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Vitamin A RAE | 137µg | 125µg |
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Vitamin E | 0.15mg | 0.18mg |
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Vitamin D | 13IU | 16IU |
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Vitamin D | 0.3µg | 0.4µg |
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Vitamin B1 | 0.02mg | 0.154mg |
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Vitamin B2 | 0.34mg | 0.844mg |
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Vitamin B3 | 0.12mg | 0.991mg |
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Vitamin B5 | 0.967mg |
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Vitamin B6 | 0.08mg | 0.424mg |
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Folate | 9µg | 32µg |
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Vitamin B12 | 0.92µg | 1.69µg |
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Vitamin K | 1.8µg | 1.8µg | |
Tryptophan | 0.2mg |
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Threonine | 0.637mg |
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Isoleucine | 0.803mg |
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Leucine | 1.395mg |
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Lysine | 1.219mg |
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Methionine | 0.368mg |
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Phenylalanine | 0.675mg |
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Valine | 1.065mg |
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Histidine | 0.397mg |
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Cholesterol | 54mg | 89mg |
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Saturated Fat | 10.867g | 14.946g |
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Monounsaturated Fat | 4.844g | 4.623g |
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Polyunsaturated fat | 0.509g | 0.591g |
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Which food is preferable for your diet?


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Low Fats diet |
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Low Carbs diet |
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Low Calories diet |
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Low glycemic index diet | Equal |
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Vitamins & Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score




Comparison summary





