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Tortilla vs. Taco shells — In-Depth Nutrition Comparison

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Summary of differences between tortilla and taco shells

  • Tortilla has more iron, selenium, vitamin B3, and vitamin B1, while taco shells have more fiber, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc.
  • Taco shells cover your daily need for saturated fat, 34% more than tortilla.
  • Tortilla contains 3 times more selenium than taco shells. While tortilla contains 16.6µg of selenium, taco shells contain only 4.8µg.
  • The amount of saturated fat in tortilla is lower.
  • Tortilla has a lower glycemic index. The glycemic index of tortilla is 52, while the glycemic index of taco shells is 69.

These are the specific foods used in this comparison Tortilla, includes plain and from mutton sandwich (Navajo) and Taco shells, baked.

Infographic

Tortilla vs Taco shells infographic
Infographic link

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 14% 21% 9.3% 143% 34% 8.7% 63% 63% 35% 91%
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 59% 30% 20% 62% 38% 44% 100% 42% 73% 26%
Contains more IronIron +132.3%
Contains more SeleniumSelenium +245.8%
Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +336.8%
Contains more CalciumCalcium +42.9%
Contains more PotassiumPotassium +120%
Contains more CopperCopper +10.8%
Contains more ZincZinc +403.1%
Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus +59.6%
Contains less SodiumSodium -32.8%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +109%

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 0% 0% 3.8% 0% 93% 26% 77% 10% 14% 0% 1% 74% 0%
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 0% 0.33% 14% 0% 54% 18% 35% 0% 47% 0% 22% 52% 16%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +71.3%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +42.5%
Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +120.9%
Contains more Vitamin B5Vitamin B5 +∞%
Contains more FolateFolate +42%
Contains more Vitamin EVitamin E +263.2%
Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6 +238.3%
Contains more Vitamin KVitamin K +2050%
~equal in Vitamin C ~0mg
~equal in Vitamin D ~0µg
~equal in Vitamin B12 ~0µg

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
7% 50% 40% 2%
Protein: 7.28 g
Fats: 0.95 g
Carbs: 49.94 g
Water: 39.96 g
Other: 1.87 g
6% 22% 63% 6% 2%
Protein: 6.41 g
Fats: 21.79 g
Carbs: 63.49 g
Water: 6.4 g
Other: 1.91 g
Contains more ProteinProtein +13.6%
Contains more WaterWater +524.4%
Contains more FatsFats +2193.7%
Contains more CarbsCarbs +27.1%
~equal in Other ~1.91g

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
34% 21% 45%
Saturated fat: Sat. Fat 0.296 g
Monounsaturated fat: Mono. Fat 0.185 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 0.391 g
36% 36% 28%
Saturated fat: Sat. Fat 7.105 g
Monounsaturated fat: Mono. Fat 6.935 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 5.495 g
Contains less Sat. FatSaturated fat -95.8%
Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated fat +3648.6%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +1305.4%

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
94% 5%
Starch: 43.02 g
Sucrose: 0.22 g
Glucose: 0.15 g
Fructose: 0 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 2.37 g
Galactose: 0 g
97% 2%
Starch: 54.94 g
Sucrose: 1 g
Glucose: 0.1 g
Fructose: 0.1 g
Lactose: 0.1 g
Maltose: 0.1 g
Galactose: 0.1 g
Contains more GlucoseGlucose +50%
Contains more MaltoseMaltose +2270%
Contains more StarchStarch +27.7%
Contains more SucroseSucrose +354.5%
Contains more FructoseFructose +∞%
Contains more LactoseLactose +∞%
Contains more GalactoseGalactose +∞%

Comparison summary table

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

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient Tortilla Taco shells DV% diff.
Polyunsaturated fat 0.391g 5.495g 34%
Fats 0.95g 21.79g 32%
Saturated fat 0.296g 7.105g 31%
Iron 3.81mg 1.64mg 27%
Selenium 16.6µg 4.8µg 21%
Monounsaturated fat 0.185g 6.935g 17%
Fiber 2.4g 6.7g 17%
Magnesium 19mg 83mg 15%
Vitamin B3 4.125mg 1.867mg 14%
Vitamin B1 0.37mg 0.216mg 13%
Manganese 0.268mg 0.56mg 13%
Calories 237kcal 476kcal 12%
Phosphorus 146mg 233mg 12%
Zinc 0.32mg 1.61mg 12%
Vitamin B6 0.06mg 0.203mg 11%
Sodium 482mg 324mg 7%
Folate 98µg 69µg 7%
Vitamin K 0.4µg 8.6µg 7%
Starch 43.02g 54.94g 5%
Carbs 49.94g 63.49g 5%
Choline 29.9mg 5%
Potassium 105mg 231mg 4%
Vitamin B5 0.17mg 3%
Vitamin B2 0.114mg 0.08mg 3%
Vitamin E 0.19mg 0.69mg 3%
Calcium 70mg 100mg 3%
Protein 7.28g 6.41g 2%
Copper 0.102mg 0.113mg 1%
Net carbs 47.54g 56.79g N/A
Sugar 2.75g 1.5g N/A
Vitamin A 1µg 0%
Trans fat 0.172g N/A
Tryptophan 0.06mg 0.04mg 0%
Threonine 0.182mg 0.227mg 0%
Isoleucine 0.286mg 0.22mg 0%
Leucine 0.53mg 0.837mg 0%
Lysine 0.157mg 0.197mg 0%
Methionine 0.122mg 0.18mg 0%
Phenylalanine 0.375mg 0.29mg 0%
Valine 0.326mg 0.287mg 0%
Histidine 0.165mg 0.167mg 0%
Fructose 0g 0.1g 0%
Omega-3 - ALA 0.019g 0.27g N/A
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0g 0.014g N/A
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0g 0.005g N/A
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 5.097g N/A

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
Tortilla Taco shells
Low Calories diet ok
Low Fats diet ok
Low Carbs diet ok
Low Glycemic Index diet ok

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
23%
Tortilla
20%
Taco shells
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
48%
Tortilla
49%
Taco shells

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
Tortilla
Tortilla is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 0mg)
Which food is lower in Saturated fat?
Tortilla
Tortilla is lower in Saturated fat (difference - 6.809g)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
Tortilla
Tortilla is lower in glycemic index (difference - 17)
Which food is lower in Sugar?
Taco shells
Taco shells is lower in Sugar (difference - 1.25g)
Which food contains less Sodium?
Taco shells
Taco shells contains less Sodium (difference - 158mg)
Which food is richer in minerals?
Taco shells
Taco shells is relatively richer in minerals
Which food is cheaper?
?
The foods are relatively equal in price ($)
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. Tortilla - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/168041/nutrients
  2. Taco shells - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/172800/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.