Basil vs. Russet Potato

Nutrition comparison of Basil and Russet Potato


Ever wonder how your favorite foods stack up against each other in terms of nutrition?

We compared the nutritional contents of basil versus russet potato (100g each) below using 2020 USDA and NIH data[1].

For a quick recap of significant nutrients and differences in basil and russet potato:

  • Both russet potato and basil are high in potassium.
  • Basil has 5.8 times less carbohydrates than russet potato.
  • Basil has 71% less calories than russet potato.
  • Basil is a great source of Vitamin C.
  • Basil is an excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin K, calcium and iron.
  • Russet potato has more thiamin and Vitamin B6, however, basil contains more riboflavin and folate.
Detailed nutritional comparison of basil and russet potato is analyzed below. You can also visualize the nutritional comparison for a custom portion or serving size and see how the nutrition compares.

USDA sources for nutritional information: Basil (Basil, fresh) and Russet Potato (Potatoes, russet, flesh and skin, raw (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program)) . Have a correction or suggestions? Shoot us an email.


Image of Basil src
Image of Russet Potato src

Calories and Carbs

calories

Basil has 71% less calories than russet potato - russet potato has 79 calories per 100 grams and basil has 23 calories.

For macronutrient ratios, basil is much heavier in protein, much lighter in carbs and heavier in fat compared to russet potato per calorie. Basil has a macronutrient ratio of 44:37:19 and for russet potato, 10:89:1 for protein, carbohydrates and fat from calories.

Macro Ratios from Calories:

Basil Russet Potato
Protein 44% 10%
Carbohydrates 37% 89%
Fat 19% 1%
Alcohol ~ ~

carbohydrates

Basil has 5.8 times less carbohydrates than russet potato - russet potato has 18.1g of total carbs per 100 grams and basil has 2.7g of carbohydrates.

The carbs in russet potato are made of 89% starch, 7% dietary fiber and 3% sugar, whereas the carbs in basil comprise of 84% dietary fiber and 16% sugar.

dietary fiber

Russet potato and basil contain similar amounts of dietary fiber - russet potato has 1.3g of dietary fiber per 100 grams and basil has 1.6g of dietary fiber.

sugar

Russet potato and basil contain similar amounts of sugar - russet potato has 0.62g of sugar per 100 grams and basil has 0.3g of sugar.

Protein

protein

Russet potato and basil contain similar amounts of protein - russet potato has 2.1g of protein per 100 grams and basil has 3.2g of protein.

Fat

saturated fat

Both russet potato and basil are low in saturated fat - russet potato has 0.03g of saturated fat per 100 grams and basil has 0.04g of saturated fat.

Vitamins

Vitamin C

Basil is a great source of Vitamin C and it has 216% more Vitamin C than russet potato - russet potato has 5.7mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams and basil has 18mg of Vitamin C.

Vitamin A

Basil is an excellent source of Vitamin A and it has more Vitamin A than russet potato - basil has 264ug of Vitamin A per 100 grams and russet potato does not contain significant amounts.

Vitamin E

Russet potato and basil contain similar amounts of Vitamin E - russet potato has 0.01mg of Vitamin E per 100 grams and basil has 0.8mg of Vitamin E.

Vitamin K

Basil is an excellent source of Vitamin K and it has 229 times more Vitamin K than russet potato - russet potato has 1.8ug of Vitamin K per 100 grams and basil has 414.8ug of Vitamin K.

The B Vitamins

Russet potato has more thiamin and Vitamin B6, however, basil contains more riboflavin and folate. Both basil and russet potato contain significant amounts of niacin and pantothenic acid.

Basil Russet Potato
Thiamin 0.034 MG 0.082 MG
Riboflavin 0.076 MG 0.033 MG
Niacin 0.902 MG 1.035 MG
Pantothenic acid 0.209 MG 0.301 MG
Vitamin B6 0.155 MG 0.345 MG
Folate 68 UG 14 UG

Minerals

calcium

Basil is an excellent source of calcium and it has 12 times more calcium than russet potato - russet potato has 13mg of calcium per 100 grams and basil has 177mg of calcium.

iron

Basil is an excellent source of iron and it has 269% more iron than russet potato - russet potato has 0.86mg of iron per 100 grams and basil has 3.2mg of iron.

potassium

Both russet potato and basil are high in potassium. Russet potato has 41% more potassium than basil - russet potato has 417mg of potassium per 100 grams and basil has 295mg of potassium.

Antioxidants and Phytonutrients

carotenoids

Carotenoids are micronutrients commonly found in plants and some animal products. An example is beta-carotene, the notable carotenoid which is a popular source of Vitamin A.[4][5]

For specific types of carotenoids,

Basil Russet Potato
beta-carotene 3142 UG ~
lutein + zeaxanthin 5650 UG 5 UG

Omega-3 and Omega-6

omega 3s

For omega-3 fatty acids, basil has more alpha linoleic acid (ALA) than russet potato per 100 grams.

Basil Russet Potato
alpha linoleic acid 0.316 G 0.01 G
Total 0.316 G 0.01 G

omega 6s

Comparing omega-6 fatty acids, basil has more linoleic acid than russet potato per 100 grams.

Basil Russet Potato
linoleic acid 0.073 G 0.032 G
Total 0.073 G 0.032 G



Customize your serving size


The comparison below is by weight, but sometimes 100g isn't that intuitive of a measurement for food. View a custom portion comparison (e.g. cups, oz, package).

You can try adding or subtracting the amount of either Basil or Russet Potato .

Note: The specific food items compared are: Basil (Basil, fresh) and Russet Potato (Potatoes, russet, flesh and skin, raw (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program)) .

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FAQ

Does russet potato or basil contain more calories in 100 grams?
Basil has 70% less calories than russet potato - russet potato has 79 calories in 100g and basil has 23 calories.

Is russet potato or basil better for protein?
Russet potato and basil contain similar amounts of protein - russet potato has 2.1g of protein per 100 grams and basil has 3.2g of protein.

Does russet potato or basil have more carbohydrates?
By weight, basil has 5.8 times fewer carbohydrates than russet potato - russet potato has 18.1g of carbs for 100g and basil has 2.7g of carbohydrates. the carbs in russet potato are made of 90% starch, 10% dietary fiber and 0% sugar, whereas the carbs in basil comprise of 80% dietary fiber and 20% sugar.

Does russet potato or basil contain more calcium?
Basil is a rich source of calcium and it has 12 times more calcium than russet potato - russet potato has 13mg of calcium in 100 grams and basil has 177mg of calcium.

Does russet potato or basil contain more iron?
Basil is an abundant source of iron and it has 270% more iron than russet potato - russet potato has 0.86mg of iron in 100 grams and basil has 3.2mg of iron.

Does russet potato or basil contain more potassium?
Both russet potato and basil are high in potassium. Russet potato has 40% more potassium than basil - russet potato has 417mg of potassium in 100 grams and basil has 295mg of potassium.