Basil vs Cilantro – Which is Healthier?

Our Verdict

When comparing basil to cilantro, we picked the cilantro.

Why?

Both have their strong merits, but there can be only one winner when all’s said and done:

First, you may be thinking: these are just herbs; we don’t eat enough of these for the nutritional values to be relevant!

And to this we say: there’s nothing stopping you :p Herbs are full of flavor and goodness and there is really no reason to deny yourself. On this note, check out the sabzi khordan (traditional Levantine herb platter), linked below. You’ll start thinking about herbs in new ways, and you can thank us later!

So, onwards to the comparisons…

In terms of macros, the only relevant distinguishing factor is that cilantro has nearly 2x the fiber, so that’s a win in this category of cilantro.

In the category of vitamins, basil has more of vitamins B6, B7, B9, and K, while cilantro has more of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, C, and E, winning this round too.

Looking at minerals, however, basil has more calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc, while cilantro has more potassium and selenium, yielding an 8:1 win to basil in this category.

In other considerations, both are equally good sources of polyphenols, so that’s a tie in this round.

Adding up the sections makes for a clear overall win for cilantro, but by all means do enjoy either or both, as diversity is best!

Want to learn more?

You might like:

• Holy Basil: What Does (And Doesn’t) It Do? ← this is not culinary basil, but it’s an interesting read nevertheless
• 21 Most Beneficial Polyphenols & What Foods Have Them
• Invigorating Sabzi Khordan (A Traditional Levantine Platter Of Herbs & Accompaniments)

Enjoy!