Cucumber vs. Eggplant — Health Impact and Nutrition Comparison


Summary
Eggplant contains more Vitamin E, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B6, folate, potassium, and copper than cucumber. Eggplant is also lower in saturated fat.
Cucumber contains higher amounts of calcium, iron, zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K. It is also lower in sugar and glycemic index.
Table of contents
Introduction
In this article, you can find a detailed description of the differences between eggplant and cucumber.
What's The Actual Difference?
Eggplant belongs to the Solanum genus, and cucumber belongs to the Cucumis genus. Eggplant is a dark purple or brownish-purple color, whereas regular cucumbers have green stripes on darker green skin.
Cucumbers are commonly green but can also be white, yellow, or orange. Cucumbers' flavor is all about their texture and water content; they are sweet and plumpy. Eggplant has a tender, mild, and sweet flavor.
Nutrition
Below you can find the nutrition infographics that visually show the differences between cucumber and eggplant. The food varieties discussed in this article are raw cucumber and raw eggplant.
Calories
Both cucumber and eggplant are low in calories. Cucumber contains 15 calories per 100g, whereas eggplant contains 25 calories per 100g. They both can be an excellent addition to low-calorie diets.
Fats
Both plants have fats of less than 1g. Cucumber contains 0.11g of fat, and the eggplant has 0.18g of fat. Due to their low-fat content, cucumber and eggplant can be added to the list of recommended foods for low-fat diets, such as The Paleo Diet and The Vegan Diet.
Carbs
Eggplant has two times more carbs than cucumber; however, the carbs content of both plants is shallow. Eggplant contains 5.88g of carbs per 100g, whereas cucumber contains 3.63g of carbs per 100g. Eggplant has 3g fiber and 2.88g net carbs. In addition, eggplant falls in the range of the top 27% of foods as a source of fiber.
Cucumber provides 0.5g of fiber and 3.13g of net carbs.
Both are considered low carbs foods.
Cholesterol
Both plants have no cholesterol.
Protein
Cucumber and eggplant have tiny and equal amounts of protein.
Vitamins
Eggplant contains nine times more Vitamin E and five times more Vitamin B3 than cucumber. Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, and folate are also higher in eggplant.
On the other hand, cucumber contains more Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K.
Both eggplant and cucumber have an equal amount of Vitamin B5.
Vitamin Comparison
Minerals
Cucumber is relatively higher in calcium, zinc, and iron, whereas eggplant provides more potassium and copper.
Both plants have equal amounts of magnesium, phosphorus, and sodium.
Small mention: both plants are deficient in sodium: 2mg per 100g.
Mineral Comparison
Glycemic Index
Overall, vegetables are considered low glycemic index foods. However, the glycemic index of cucumber is a bit lower than that of eggplant.
Cucumber has a glycemic index of 21 and a glycemic load of 1.5.
Eggplant has a GI of 30 and a glycemic load of 1. This means that consumption of both plants will not raise your blood sugar levels.
Health Impact
Cardiovascular Health
Cucurbitacins are compounds found in cucumbers, which have both toxic and beneficial health effects. One of the advantages is that they can prevent or slow the progression of atherosclerosis by modifying lipoproteins. According to one study [1], cucumber lowers systolic and diastolic blood pressure in older people. The potential mechanism is due to its diuretic effect, which reduces circulating fluid in the bloodstream, reducing the workload on the heart.
For 30 days, animals were fed either raw or grilled eggplant in one study [2]. Both types improved heart function and reduced the severity of heart attacks. However, more research is needed to determine how eggplants affect human heart health.
Cancer
Research shows that cucurbitacins inhibit tumor cell growth and signaling pathways and cause cancer cells to die. Cucurbitacins have antitumor activity against lung, pancreatic, colon, breast, and cervical cancers [3]. Triterpenes and lignans isolated from cucumber have shown anticancer activity against liver cancer by inducing cancer cell death [4].
Solasodine rhamnosyl glycosides (SRGs) are compounds found in nightshade plants such as eggplant. SRGs have been shown in animal studies [5] to cause cancer cell death and may also help reduce the recurrence of certain types of cancer.
Diabetes
Eggplants are high in phenolic compounds, which according to research, may regulate carbohydrate metabolism in the body. This mechanism gives insulin more time to digest the carbohydrates, mostly from refined foods with little fiber or vitamin content [6].
Another study found that polyphenols can help lower blood sugar by reducing sugar absorption and increasing insulin secretion. Eating eggplant inhibits the enzyme that converts starch into blood sugar, making it one of the most effective foods for diabetes prevention [7].
Skin Health
Keeping your skin hydrated helps to improve elasticity and firmness. Lack of hydration can cause your skin to appear dry and flaky and more prone to fine lines and wrinkles. Cucumbers are high in polysaccharides, which can help to keep the skin elastic and healthy. Cucumbers are mostly water; in fact, they are 96 percent water. Cucumbers' high water content is a crucial benefit because it allows them to provide superior hydration to the skin [8].
Other Health Benefits
Cucumbers are high in water (96%), which may help to keep you hydrated. Dehydration is a risk factor for constipation because it may make your stool passage difficult. Staying hydrated can help with softer stools, relieve constipation, and improve regularity if the constipation is due to dehydration [9].
Eggplant is rich in dietary fiber. It may beneficially affect chronic functional constipation and IBS and lower the risk of hemorrhoids and diverticulosis [10].
Animal studies [11] suggest that nasunin, an anthocyanin found in eggplant skin, may help protect brain cell membranes from free radical damage.
Anthocyanins also help to reduce neuroinflammation and increase blood flow to the brain. This may aid in preventing memory loss and other aspects of aging-related mental decline [12].
Side Effects
Allergy
Cucurbits have been linked to oral allergy syndrome (itching, burning, redness, and swelling of the lips), nausea, diarrhea, asthma, rhinitis, watery eyes, and contact urticaria. Eggplant belongs to a family of plants known as nightshades. People may more likely develop an eggplant allergy if allergic to other nightshades, including tomatoes, potatoes, or peppers.
Cucumbers and eggplants contain salicylate, so people who are allergic to Aspirin should avoid cucumbers, apples, almonds, oranges, berries, tomatoes, and other foods [13].
References
- https://stikbar.org/ycabpublisher/index.php/PHI/article/view/93
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21894326/
- https://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/69/14/5876
- https://www.nature.com/articles/srep36594
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22399274/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2871121/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6981492/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6356561/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7987589/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24876314/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0300483X0000202X
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5613902/
- https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/allergolint/64/1/64_S1323-8930-14-00013-6/_article/-char/ja/
Infographic

Macronutrient Comparison
Fat Type Comparison
Carbohydrate type comparison
Comparison summary table
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Lower in Saturated Fat |
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Lower in price |
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Rich in vitamins |
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Lower in Sugar |
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Lower in Glycemic Index |
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Lower in Sodium | Equal | ||
Lower in Cholesterol | Equal | ||
Rich in minerals | Equal |
All nutrients comparison - raw data values
Nutrient | ![]() |
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Opinion |
Net carbs | 3.13g | 2.88g |
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Protein | 0.65g | 0.98g |
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Fats | 0.11g | 0.18g |
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Carbs | 3.63g | 5.88g |
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Calories | 15kcal | 25kcal |
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Starch | 0.83g |
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Fructose | 0.87g | 1.54g |
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Sugar | 1.67g | 3.53g |
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Fiber | 0.5g | 3g |
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Calcium | 16mg | 9mg |
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Iron | 0.28mg | 0.23mg |
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Magnesium | 13mg | 14mg |
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Phosphorus | 24mg | 24mg | |
Potassium | 147mg | 229mg |
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Sodium | 2mg | 2mg | |
Zinc | 0.2mg | 0.16mg |
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Copper | 0.041mg | 0.081mg |
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Manganese | 0.079mg | 0.232mg |
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Selenium | 0.3µg | 0.3µg | |
Vitamin A | 105IU | 23IU |
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Vitamin A RAE | 5µg | 1µg |
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Vitamin E | 0.03mg | 0.3mg |
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Vitamin C | 2.8mg | 2.2mg |
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Vitamin B1 | 0.027mg | 0.039mg |
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Vitamin B2 | 0.033mg | 0.037mg |
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Vitamin B3 | 0.098mg | 0.649mg |
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Vitamin B5 | 0.259mg | 0.281mg |
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Vitamin B6 | 0.04mg | 0.084mg |
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Folate | 7µg | 22µg |
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Vitamin K | 16.4µg | 3.5µg |
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Tryptophan | 0.005mg | 0.009mg |
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Threonine | 0.019mg | 0.037mg |
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Isoleucine | 0.021mg | 0.045mg |
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Leucine | 0.029mg | 0.064mg |
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Lysine | 0.029mg | 0.047mg |
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Methionine | 0.006mg | 0.011mg |
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Phenylalanine | 0.019mg | 0.043mg |
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Valine | 0.022mg | 0.053mg |
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Histidine | 0.01mg | 0.023mg |
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Saturated Fat | 0.037g | 0.034g |
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Monounsaturated Fat | 0.005g | 0.016g |
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Polyunsaturated fat | 0.032g | 0.076g |
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Which food is preferable for your diet?


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Low Fats diet |
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Low Carbs diet |
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Low Calories diet |
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Low Glycemic Index diet |
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People also compare
Vitamins & Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score




Comparison summary





References
The source of all the nutrient values on the page (excluding the main article the sources for which are presented separately if present) is the USDA's FoodCentral. The exact links to the foods presented on this page can be found below.
- Cucumber - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/168409/nutrients
- Eggplant - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169228/nutrients
All the Daily Values are presented for males aged 31-50, for 2000-calorie diets.