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Radicchio vs. Red cabbage — Health Impact and Nutrition Comparison

Article author photo Victoria Mazmanyan by Victoria Mazmanyan | Last updated on February 04, 2023
Medically reviewed by Igor Bussel Article author photo Igor Bussel
Radicchio
vs
Red cabbage

Summary

In short, red cabbage is higher in carbohydrates, both net carbs and dietary fiber, and calories. Red cabbage provides 41 times more vitamin A and 7 times more vitamin C. However, radicchio can be a better source of minerals such as copper, zinc, and phosphorus.

Red cabbage and radicchio are full of health-beneficial effects due to their high anthocyanin content. However, red cabbage is much better researched in this field.

Table of contents

  1. Introduction
    1. Classification
      1. Appearance
        1. Taste and Use
        2. Nutrition
          1. Macronutrients and Calories
            1. Calories
            2. Protein and Fats
            3. Carbohydrates
          2. Vitamins
            1. Minerals
            2. Health Impact
              1. Health Benefits
                1. Cardiovascular Health
                2. Diabetes
                3. Cancer
            3. Sources.

              Introduction

              Red cabbage and radicchio are often mistaken for each other; however, the two are entirely different vegetables. In this article, we will be discussing what similarities red cabbage and radicchio share and what sets them apart.

              Classification

              Despite all the similarities, red cabbage and radicchio botanically belong to separate families. Red cabbage is the purple-leafed variety of cabbage belonging to the Brassicaceae family and Oleracea species. Radicchio, on the other hand, is a part of the Asteraceae family and Chicorium genus.

              Red cabbage and radicchio are often referred to as leaf or leafy vegetables, which are plant leaves used as vegetables.

              Appearance

              The two vegetables look alike; however, radicchio has distinct white-veined leaves and is usually smaller and more oblong in size. Radicchio also has a stronger reddish hue to its purple leaves.

              Taste and Use

              Red cabbage and radicchio are sometimes interchangeably used in recipes despite the difference in their flavors and textures. Radicchio has thin leaves with a bitter taste, while red cabbage has a milder taste and crunchier leaves.

              Nutrition

              The nutritional information below will be presented for raw red cabbage and radicchio.

              Macronutrients and Calories

              Red cabbage is slightly denser in nutrients, consisting of 91% water, while radicchio contains 94% water.

              The average serving size of red cabbage per person is one cup of shredded cabbage, equal to 70g. At the same time, one cup of shredded radicchio weighs 40g.

              Calories

              Red cabbage and radicchio are both very low-calorie foods. However, red cabbage is slightly higher in calories, containing 31 calories in a 100g serving. A hundred-gram serving of radicchio provides only 23 calories.

              One cup of chopped red cabbage contains 22 calories, while the same serving size of radicchio has 9 calories.

              Protein and Fats

              Like most leafy vegetables, red cabbage and radicchio are very low in protein and fats.

              The two vegetables provide the same exact amount of protein - 1.43g per 100g serving.

              Red cabbage and radicchio contain negligible amounts of fats.

              Vegetables naturally do not contain cholesterol or trans fats.

              Carbohydrates

              Red cabbage is richer in carbohydrates by 65%. Per 100g serving, red cabbage provides 7.37g of carbohydrates, while radicchio contains 4.48g.

              Red cabbage contains 1.5 times more net carbs and is 2.3 times higher in dietary fiber.

              Vitamins

              Red cabbage and radicchio are rich sources of several vitamins; however, red cabbage wins in this category.

              Red cabbage provides 41 times more vitamin A, 7 times more vitamin C, and 4 times more vitamins B1 and B6. Red cabbage is also richer in vitamins B2 and B3.

              At the same time, radicchio contains 20 times more vitamin E, 7 times more vitamin K, 3 times more folate, and 2 times more vitamin B5.

              Vitamin Comparison

              Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
              Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 27% 1.6% 45% 0% 4% 6.5% 4.8% 16% 13% 0% 638% 45% 5.9%
              Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 190% 67% 2.2% 0% 16% 16% 7.8% 8.8% 48% 0% 96% 14% 9.3%
              Contains more Vitamin EVitamin E +1954.5%
              Contains more Vitamin B5Vitamin B5 +83%
              Contains more Vitamin KVitamin K +568.1%
              Contains more FolateFolate +233.3%
              Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C +612.5%
              Contains more Vitamin AVitamin A +4033.3%
              Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +300%
              Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +146.4%
              Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +63.9%
              Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6 +266.7%
              Contains more CholineCholine +56.9%
              ~equal in Vitamin D ~0µg
              ~equal in Vitamin B12 ~0µg

              Minerals

              Inversely, radicchio wins in the mineral category. Radicchio is 20 times richer in copper and 3 times richer in zinc. Radicchio also provides slightly more phosphorus and potassium and less sodium.

              Red cabbage, on the other hand, is richer in calcium, iron, and magnesium.

              Mineral Comparison

              Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
              Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 9.3% 5.7% 27% 21% 114% 17% 17% 2.9% 18% 4.9%
              Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 11% 14% 21% 30% 5.7% 6% 13% 3.5% 32% 3.3%
              Contains more PotassiumPotassium +24.3%
              Contains more CopperCopper +1905.9%
              Contains more ZincZinc +181.8%
              Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus +33.3%
              Contains less SodiumSodium -18.5%
              Contains more SeleniumSelenium +50%
              Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +23.1%
              Contains more CalciumCalcium +136.8%
              Contains more IronIron +40.4%
              Contains more ManganeseManganese +76.1%

              Health Impact

              Health Benefits

              Leafy vegetables are known to contain phytochemicals that provide various beneficial health effects.

              Red cabbage and radicchio get their red coloring from containing phytochemicals called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins have antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative properties, which can help protect against diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurological disorders (1, 2).

              Overall, the health impact of red cabbage is better researched in the scientific field when compared to that of radicchio.

              Cardiovascular Health

              Red cabbage has been researched to potentially protect against cardiovascular disease by lowering low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, cholesterol, and inflammatory cytokine levels (3, 4).

              Studies on the effect of radicchio on cardiovascular health have not yet been carried out. However, the impact can be assumed to be beneficial due to radicchio’s high content of phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals.

              Diabetes

              Research carried out on animals found red cabbage to have antidiabetic properties, lowering blood glucose levels and improving kidney and liver function in diabetic rats (5, 6).

              While not much research has been done regarding radicchio and diabetes, chicory plants have been found to have antidiabetic effects (7). Radicchio and chicory are very closely related.

              Cancer

              Anthocyanins have been demonstrated to have anti-cancer qualities, potentially protecting against skin, colon, esophageal, and lung cancer (8).

              Due to high anthocyanin levels, radicchio or red chicory has also been found to potentially decrease the risk of cancer, colon cancer in particular (9).

              Similarly, red cabbage has also been researched for its anti-cancer activities (10, 11, 12).

              Sources.

              1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8308553/
              2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1082894/
              3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27933986/
              4. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13880209.2016.1200633
              5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2529380/
              6. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262835482
              7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32768902/
              8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2582525/
              9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3771420/
              10. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2020/ra/d0ra07861a
              11. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344521531
              12. http://www.ijpacr.com/files/31-08-2019/04.pdf
              Article author photo Victoria Mazmanyan
              Education: General Medicine at YSMU
              Last updated: February 04, 2023
              Medically reviewed by Igor Bussel

              Infographic

              Radicchio vs Red cabbage infographic
              Infographic link

              Macronutrient Comparison

              Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
              4% 93%
              Protein: 1.43 g
              Fats: 0.25 g
              Carbs: 4.48 g
              Water: 93.14 g
              Other: 0.7 g
              7% 90%
              Protein: 1.43 g
              Fats: 0.16 g
              Carbs: 7.37 g
              Water: 90.39 g
              Other: 0.65 g
              Contains more FatsFats +56.3%
              Contains more CarbsCarbs +64.5%
              ~equal in Protein ~1.43g
              ~equal in Water ~90.39g
              ~equal in Other ~0.65g

              Fat Type Comparison

              Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
              33% 6% 61%
              Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 0.06 g
              Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 0.01 g
              Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 0.11 g
              19% 11% 71%
              Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 0.021 g
              Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 0.012 g
              Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 0.08 g
              Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +37.5%
              Contains less Sat. FatSaturated Fat -65%
              Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated Fat +20%

              Comparison summary table

              Pay attention to the rightmost column. It displays the amounts side by side, giving a clearer understanding of the difference.
              Radicchio Red cabbage
              Lower in Saturated Fat ok
              Lower in Sugar ok
              Lower in Sodium ok
              Lower in Glycemic Index ok
              Lower in price ok
              Lower in Cholesterol Equal
              Rich in minerals Equal
              Rich in vitamins Equal

              All nutrients comparison - raw data values

              Nutrient Radicchio Red cabbage Opinion
              Calories 23kcal 31kcal Red cabbage
              Protein 1.43g 1.43g
              Fats 0.25g 0.16g Radicchio
              Vitamin C 8mg 57mg Red cabbage
              Net carbs 3.58g 5.27g Red cabbage
              Carbs 4.48g 7.37g Red cabbage
              Magnesium 13mg 16mg Red cabbage
              Calcium 19mg 45mg Red cabbage
              Potassium 302mg 243mg Radicchio
              Iron 0.57mg 0.8mg Red cabbage
              Sugar 0.6g 3.83g Radicchio
              Fiber 0.9g 2.1g Red cabbage
              Copper 0.341mg 0.017mg Radicchio
              Zinc 0.62mg 0.22mg Radicchio
              Phosphorus 40mg 30mg Radicchio
              Sodium 22mg 27mg Radicchio
              Vitamin A 27IU 1116IU Red cabbage
              Vitamin A 1µg 56µg Red cabbage
              Vitamin E 2.26mg 0.11mg Radicchio
              Manganese 0.138mg 0.243mg Red cabbage
              Selenium 0.9µg 0.6µg Radicchio
              Vitamin B1 0.016mg 0.064mg Red cabbage
              Vitamin B2 0.028mg 0.069mg Red cabbage
              Vitamin B3 0.255mg 0.418mg Red cabbage
              Vitamin B5 0.269mg 0.147mg Radicchio
              Vitamin B6 0.057mg 0.209mg Red cabbage
              Vitamin K 255.2µg 38.2µg Radicchio
              Folate 60µg 18µg Radicchio
              Choline 10.9mg 17.1mg Red cabbage
              Saturated Fat 0.06g 0.021g Red cabbage
              Monounsaturated Fat 0.01g 0.012g Red cabbage
              Polyunsaturated fat 0.11g 0.08g Radicchio
              Tryptophan 0.026mg 0.012mg Radicchio
              Threonine 0.04mg 0.039mg Radicchio
              Isoleucine 0.085mg 0.034mg Radicchio
              Leucine 0.062mg 0.046mg Radicchio
              Lysine 0.056mg 0.049mg Radicchio
              Methionine 0.008mg 0.014mg Red cabbage
              Phenylalanine 0.034mg 0.036mg Red cabbage
              Valine 0.065mg 0.048mg Radicchio
              Histidine 0.024mg 0.024mg
              Fructose 1.48g Red cabbage

              Which food is preferable for your diet?

              ok
              ok
              is better in case of low diet
              Radicchio Red cabbage
              Low Calories diet ok
              Low Fats diet ok
              Low Carbs diet ok
              Low Glycemic Index diet ok

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              Vitamins & Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score

              The summary scores indicate the extent to which this food can fulfill your daily vitamin and mineral requirements if you consume 3 servings, consisting of 100 grams of each (an approximation of 3 serving sizes).
              Vitamins Daily Need Coverage Score
              62%
              Radicchio
              36%
              Red cabbage
              Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
              24%
              Radicchio
              14%
              Red cabbage

              Comparison summary

              Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?
              Red cabbage
              Red cabbage is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 0.039g)
              Which food is lower in Sugar?
              Radicchio
              Radicchio is lower in Sugar (difference - 3.23g)
              Which food contains less Sodium?
              Radicchio
              Radicchio contains less Sodium (difference - 5mg)
              Which food is lower in glycemic index?
              Radicchio
              Radicchio is lower in glycemic index (difference - 32)
              Which food is cheaper?
              Radicchio
              Radicchio is cheaper (difference - $0.3)
              Which food contains less Cholesterol?
              ?
              The foods are relatively equal in Cholesterol (0 mg)
              Which food is richer in minerals?
              ?
              It cannot be stated which food is richer in vitamins. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information.
              Which food is richer in vitamins?
              ?
              It cannot be stated which food is richer in vitamins. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information.

              References

              All the values for which the sources are not specified explicitly are taken from FDA’s Food Central. The exact link to the food presented on this page can be found below.

              1. Radicchio - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/168564/nutrients
              2. Red cabbage - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169977/nutrients

              All the Daily Values are presented for males aged 31-50, for 2000-calorie diets.

              Data provided by FoodStruct.com should be considered and used as information only. Please consult your physician before beginning any diet.