Beetroot vs Radish – Which is Healthier?

Our Verdict

When comparing beetroot to radish, we picked the beetroot.

Why?

In terms of macros, beetroot has more fiber, carbs, and protein, making it the more nutrient-dense option in this category.

In the category of vitamins, beetroot has more of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and E, while radishes have more of vitamins C and K, giving beetroot a 9:2 victory here.

Looking at minerals, beetroot has more copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc, while radishes have more calcium. An easy 8:1 win for beetroot in this round.

In other considerations, beetroot has many important phytochemical benefits, mostly from its betalain content and especially betanin, while radishes can’t boast much in the phytochemical category.

You may be thinking: but what about radishes’ shiny red bit? Doesn’t that usually mean more of something important, like carotenoids or anthocyanins or something? And the answer is that the red pigment in radishes is so thinly-distributed on the exterior that it’s barely there and if we’re looking at values per 100g, it’s a tiny fraction of a tiny fraction.

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

Want to learn more?

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Enjoy!