Basil vs. Cayenne Pepper

Nutrition comparison of Basil and Cayenne Pepper


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

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

For a quick recap of significant nutrients and differences in basil and cayenne pepper:

  • Both cayenne pepper and basil are high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, calcium, iron and potassium.
  • Basil has 33.4 times less sugar than cayenne pepper.
  • Basil has 78.5 times less saturated fat than cayenne pepper.
  • Basil is an excellent source of Vitamin K.
  • Cayenne pepper has more thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and Vitamin B6, however, basil contains more pantothenic acid.
  • Cayenne pepper is an excellent source of Vitamin E, dietary fiber and protein.
Detailed nutritional comparison of basil and cayenne pepper 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 Cayenne Pepper (Spices, pepper, red or cayenne) . Have a correction or suggestions? Shoot us an email.


Image of Basil src
Image of Cayenne Pepper src

Calories and Carbs

calories

Cayenne pepper is high in calories and basil has 93% less calories than cayenne pepper - cayenne pepper has 318 calories per 100 grams and basil has 23 calories.

Basil Cayenne Pepper
Protein 43% 11%
Carbohydrates 32% 53%
Fat 24% 36%
Alcohol ~ ~

carbohydrates

Cayenne pepper is high in carbohydrates and basil has 95% less carbohydrates than cayenne pepper - cayenne pepper has 56.6g of total carbs per 100 grams and basil has 2.7g of carbohydrates.

dietary fiber

Cayenne pepper is an excellent source of dietary fiber and it has 16 times more dietary fiber than basil - cayenne pepper has 27.2g of dietary fiber per 100 grams and basil has 1.6g of dietary fiber.

sugar

Basil has 33.4 times less sugar than cayenne pepper - cayenne pepper has 10.3g of sugar per 100 grams and basil has 0.3g of sugar.

Protein

protein

Cayenne pepper is an excellent source of protein and it has 281% more protein than basil - cayenne pepper has 12g of protein per 100 grams and basil has 3.2g of protein.

Fat

saturated fat

Basil has 78.5 times less saturated fat than cayenne pepper - cayenne pepper has 3.3g of saturated fat per 100 grams and basil has 0.04g of saturated fat.

Vitamins

Vitamin C

Both cayenne pepper and basil are high in Vitamin C. Cayenne pepper has 324% more Vitamin C than basil - cayenne pepper has 76.4mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams and basil has 18mg of Vitamin C.

Vitamin A

Both cayenne pepper and basil are high in Vitamin A. Cayenne pepper has 688% more Vitamin A than basil - cayenne pepper has 2081ug of Vitamin A per 100 grams and basil has 264ug of Vitamin A.

Vitamin E

Cayenne pepper is an excellent source of Vitamin E and it has 36 times more Vitamin E than basil - cayenne pepper has 29.8mg 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 417% more Vitamin K than cayenne pepper - cayenne pepper has 80.3ug of Vitamin K per 100 grams and basil has 414.8ug of Vitamin K.

The B Vitamins

Cayenne pepper has more thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and Vitamin B6, however, basil contains more pantothenic acid. Both basil and cayenne pepper contain significant amounts of folate.

Basil Cayenne Pepper
Thiamin 0.034 MG 0.328 MG
Riboflavin 0.076 MG 0.919 MG
Niacin 0.902 MG 8.701 MG
Pantothenic acid 0.209 MG ~
Vitamin B6 0.155 MG 2.45 MG
Folate 68 UG 106 UG

Minerals

calcium

Both cayenne pepper and basil are high in calcium. Basil has 20% more calcium than cayenne pepper - cayenne pepper has 148mg of calcium per 100 grams and basil has 177mg of calcium.

iron

Both cayenne pepper and basil are high in iron. Cayenne pepper has 146% more iron than basil - cayenne pepper has 7.8mg of iron per 100 grams and basil has 3.2mg of iron.

potassium

Both cayenne pepper and basil are high in potassium. Cayenne pepper has 583% more potassium than basil - cayenne pepper has 2014mg 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 Cayenne Pepper
beta-carotene 3142 UG 21840 UG
lutein + zeaxanthin 5650 UG 13157 UG

Omega-3 and Omega-6

omega 3s

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

Basil Cayenne Pepper
alpha linoleic acid 0.316 G 0.66 G
Total 0.316 G 0.66 G

omega 6s

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

Basil Cayenne Pepper
linoleic acid 0.073 G 7.71 G
Total 0.073 G 7.71 G



Customize your serving size


The comparison below is by common portions, e.g. cups, packages. You can also see a more concrete comparison by weight at equal weight (by grams) comparison.

Note: The specific food items compared are: Basil (Basil, fresh) and Cayenne Pepper (Spices, pepper, red or cayenne) .

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FAQ

Does cayenne pepper or basil contain more calories in 100 grams?
Cayenne pepper is high in calories and basil has 90% less calories than cayenne pepper - cayenne pepper has 318 calories in 100g and basil has 23 calories.

Is cayenne pepper or basil better for protein?
Cayenne pepper is a fantastic source of protein and it has 280% more protein than basil - cayenne pepper has 12g of protein per 100 grams and basil has 3.2g of protein.

Does cayenne pepper or basil have more carbohydrates?
By weight, cayenne pepper is high in carbohydrates and basil has 100% fewer carbohydrates than cayenne pepper - cayenne pepper has 56.6g of carbs for 100g and basil has 2.7g of carbohydrates.

Does cayenne pepper or basil contain more calcium?
Both cayenne pepper and basil are high in calcium. Basil has 20% more calcium than cayenne pepper - cayenne pepper has 148mg of calcium in 100 grams and basil has 177mg of calcium.

Does cayenne pepper or basil contain more iron?
Both cayenne pepper and basil are high in iron. Cayenne pepper has 150% more iron than basil - cayenne pepper has 7.8mg of iron in 100 grams and basil has 3.2mg of iron.

Does cayenne pepper or basil contain more potassium?
Both cayenne pepper and basil are high in potassium. Cayenne pepper has 580% more potassium than basil - cayenne pepper has 2014mg of potassium in 100 grams and basil has 295mg of potassium.