Eggplant vs Tomato – Which is Healthier?

Our Verdict

When comparing eggplant to tomato, we picked the eggplant.

Why?

Both have their merits! But…

In terms of macros, eggplant has nearly 3x the fiber, as well as slightly more carbs and protein, making it the most nutritionally dense option in the macros category.

In the category of vitamins, eggplant has more of vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and B9, while tomatoes have more of vitamins A, C, E, and K. So, very different vitamin coverage from each one, and/but by the numbers, eggplant wins.

When it comes to minerals, eggplant has more copper, magnesium, manganese, and selenium, while tomatoes have more calcium and iron. The margins of difference are very small in all cases, and they’re equal in phosphorus, potassium, and zinc. So this one’s very close, but by the numbers, eggplant scrapes a marginal victory.

In other considerations, they’re about equal on polyphenols, though it’s worth mentioning that tomatoes are a famously good source of lycopene, which isn’t a polyphenol, but does a similar job, so we’ll say tomatoes get the win this round.

Adding up the sections, though, makes for an overall win for eggplant, but tomatoes are great too, and mostly in different ways than eggplant, which makes them extra good to enjoy together (salad, ratatouille, etc) for their very complementary health benefits!

Want to learn more?

You might like:

Lycopene’s Benefits For The Gut, Heart, Brain, & More

Enjoy!