Basil vs. Chili Pepper
Nutrition comparison of Basil and Chili Pepper
Ever wonder how your favorite foods stack up against each other in terms of nutrition?
We compared the nutritional contents of
basil
versus
chili pepper
(100g each)
below using 2020 USDA and NIH data[1].
For a quick recap of significant nutrients and differences in basil and chili pepper:
- Both chili pepper and basil are high in Vitamin C and potassium.
- Basil has 16 times less sugar than chili pepper.
- Basil has 72% less carbohydrates than chili pepper.
- Basil has more beta-carotene and lutein + zeaxanthin than chili pepper, however, chili pepper contains more alpha-carotene than basil.
- Basil is an excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin K, calcium and iron.
- Chili pepper has more thiamin, however, basil contains more pantothenic acid and folate.
USDA sources for nutritional information: Basil (Basil, fresh) and Chili Pepper (Peppers, hot chili, green, raw) . Have a correction or suggestions? Shoot us an email.
Calories and Carbs
calories
Chili pepper and basil contain similar amounts of calories - chili pepper has 40 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 chili pepper per calorie. Basil has a macronutrient ratio of 44:37:19 and for chili pepper, 17:80:4 for protein, carbohydrates and fat from calories.
Macro Ratios from Calories:
| Basil | Chili Pepper | |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 44% | 17% |
| Carbohydrates | 37% | 80% |
| Fat | 19% | 4% |
| Alcohol | ~ | ~ |
carbohydrates
Basil has 72% less carbohydrates than chili pepper - chili pepper has 9.5g of total carbs per 100 grams and basil has 2.7g of carbohydrates.
dietary fiber
Chili pepper and basil contain similar amounts of dietary fiber - chili pepper has 1.5g of dietary fiber per 100 grams and basil has 1.6g of dietary fiber.
sugar
Basil has 16 times less sugar than chili pepper - chili pepper has 5.1g of sugar per 100 grams and basil has 0.3g of sugar.
Protein
protein
Chili pepper and basil contain similar amounts of protein - chili pepper has 2g of protein per 100 grams and basil has 3.2g of protein.
Fat
saturated fat
Both chili pepper and basil are low in saturated fat - chili pepper has 0.02g of saturated fat per 100 grams and basil has 0.04g of saturated fat.
Vitamins
Vitamin C
Both chili pepper and basil are high in Vitamin C. Chili pepper has 12 times more Vitamin C than basil - chili pepper has 242.5mg 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 347% more Vitamin A than chili pepper - chili pepper has 59ug of Vitamin A per 100 grams and basil has 264ug of Vitamin A.
Vitamin E
Chili pepper and basil contain similar amounts of Vitamin E - chili pepper has 0.69mg 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 28 times more Vitamin K than chili pepper - chili pepper has 14.3ug of Vitamin K per 100 grams and basil has 414.8ug of Vitamin K.
The B Vitamins
Chili pepper has more thiamin, however, basil contains more pantothenic acid and folate. Both basil and chili pepper contain significant amounts of riboflavin, niacin and Vitamin B6.
| Basil | Chili Pepper | |
|---|---|---|
| Thiamin | 0.034 MG | 0.09 MG |
| Riboflavin | 0.076 MG | 0.09 MG |
| Niacin | 0.902 MG | 0.95 MG |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.209 MG | 0.061 MG |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.155 MG | 0.278 MG |
| Folate | 68 UG | 23 UG |
Minerals
calcium
Basil is an excellent source of calcium and it has 883% more calcium than chili pepper - chili pepper has 18mg of calcium per 100 grams and basil has 177mg of calcium.
iron
Basil is an excellent source of iron and it has 164% more iron than chili pepper - chili pepper has 1.2mg of iron per 100 grams and basil has 3.2mg of iron.
potassium
Both chili pepper and basil are high in potassium. Chili pepper has 15% more potassium than basil - chili pepper has 340mg 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 has more beta-carotene and lutein + zeaxanthin than chili pepper per 100 grams, however, chili pepper contains more alpha-carotene than basil per 100 grams.
| Basil | Chili Pepper | |
|---|---|---|
| beta-carotene | 3142 UG | 671 UG |
| lutein + zeaxanthin | 5650 UG | 725 UG |
| alpha-carotene | ~ | 23 UG |
Omega-3 and Omega-6
omega 3s
For omega-3 fatty acids, basil has more alpha linoleic acid (ALA) than chili pepper per 100 grams.
| Basil | Chili Pepper | |
|---|---|---|
| alpha linoleic acid | 0.316 G | 0.005 G |
| Total | 0.316 G | 0.005 G |
omega 6s
Comparing omega-6 fatty acids, both basil and chili pepper contain significant amounts of linoleic acid.
| Basil | Chili Pepper | |
|---|---|---|
| linoleic acid | 0.073 G | 0.104 G |
| Total | 0.073 G | 0.104 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 Chili Pepper .
Note: The specific food items compared are: Basil (Basil, fresh) and Chili Pepper (Peppers, hot chili, green, raw) .
Basil g
()
|
Daily Values (%) |
Chili Pepper g
()
|
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KCAL % |
|
5% | calories | 5% |
|
KCAL % | |
| G % |
|
5% | carbohydrates | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G % |
|
5% | dietary fiber | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G | 5% | sugar | 5% | G | |||
| G % |
|
5% | total fat | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G % |
|
5% | saturated fat | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G | 5% | monounsaturated fat | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | polyunsaturated fat | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | trans fat | 5% | G | |||
| MG | 5% | cholesterol | 5% | MG | |||
| MG % |
|
5% | sodium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| 5% | Vitamins and Minerals | 5% | |||||
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin A | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin C | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| IU % |
|
5% | Vitamin D | 5% |
|
IU % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | calcium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | iron | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | magnesium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | potassium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | thiamin (Vit B1) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | riboflavin (Vit B2) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | niacin (Vit B3) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin B6 | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | pantothenic acid (Vit B5) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | folate (Vit B9) | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | Vitamin B12 | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | Vitamin E | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | Vitamin K | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| G % |
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5% | protein | 5% |
|
G % | |
| UG % |
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5% | biotin (Vit B7) | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | choline | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | chlorine | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | chromium | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | copper | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | fluoride | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | iodine | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | manganese | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | molybdenum | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | phosphorus | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | selenium | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | zinc | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| G | 5% | Water | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Starch | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Alcohol | 5% | G | |||
FAQ
Does chili pepper or basil contain more calories in 100 grams?Chili pepper and basil contain similar amounts of calories - chili pepper has 40 calories in 100g and basil has 23 calories.
Is chili pepper or basil better for protein?
Chili pepper and basil contain similar amounts of protein - chili pepper has 2g of protein per 100 grams and basil has 3.2g of protein.
Does chili pepper or basil have more carbohydrates?
By weight, basil has 70% fewer carbohydrates than chili pepper - chili pepper has 9.5g of carbs for 100g and basil has 2.7g of carbohydrates.
Does chili pepper or basil contain more calcium?
Basil is a rich source of calcium and it has 880% more calcium than chili pepper - chili pepper has 18mg of calcium in 100 grams and basil has 177mg of calcium.
Does chili pepper or basil contain more iron?
Basil is an abundant source of iron and it has 160% more iron than chili pepper - chili pepper has 1.2mg of iron in 100 grams and basil has 3.2mg of iron.
Does chili pepper or basil contain more potassium?
Both chili pepper and basil are high in potassium. Chili pepper has 20% more potassium than basil - chili pepper has 340mg of potassium in 100 grams and basil has 295mg of potassium.