Basil vs Dandelion Greens – Which is Healthier?

Our Verdict

When comparing basil to dandelion greens, we picked the dandelions.

Why?

You may be thinking: basil is just a herb; we don’t eat enough 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!

Now, in terms of macros, dandelion greens have notably more fiber and carbs, making it the better option in this category, on the strength of the fiber.

In the category of vitamins, basil has more of vitamins B3, B5, and B9, while dandelion greens have more of vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B7, C, E, and K, winning a second round easily.

Looking at minerals, basil has more copper, magnesium, manganese, and zinc, while dandelion greens have more calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and selenium, for a 4:4 tie in this round.

In other considerations, both are excellent sources of polyphenols, but basil has 232mg/100g while dandelion greens have 386mg/100g, making them the clear winner in this category.

Adding up the sections makes for an overwhelming overall win for dandelions, but by all means do enjoy either or both, as diversity is good!

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!