Alfalfa Sprouts vs. Chives
Nutrition comparison of Alfalfa Sprouts and Chives
Ever wonder how your favorite foods stack up against each other in terms of nutrition?
We compared the nutritional contents of
alfalfa sprouts
versus
chives
(100g each)
below using 2020 USDA and NIH data[1].
For a quick recap of significant nutrients and differences in alfalfa sprouts and chives:
- Chive has more Vitamin B6 and folate.
- Chive is a great source of dietary fiber and potassium.
- Chive is an excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K and calcium.
USDA sources for nutritional information: Alfalfa Sprouts (Alfalfa seeds, sprouted, raw) and Chives (Chives, raw) . Have a correction or suggestions? Shoot us an email.
Calories and Carbs
calories
Alfalfa sprouts and chives contain similar amounts of calories - alfalfa sprout has 23 calories per 100 grams and chive has 30 calories.
For macronutrient ratios, alfalfa sprouts is much lighter in carbs, heavier in fat and similar to chives for protein. Alfalfa sprouts has a macronutrient ratio of 53:29:18 and for chives, 50:50:0 for protein, carbohydrates and fat from calories.
Macro Ratios from Calories:
| Alfalfa Sprouts | Chives | |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 53% | 50% |
| Carbohydrates | 29% | 50% |
| Fat | 18% | ~ |
| Alcohol | ~ | ~ |
carbohydrates
Both alfalfa sprouts and chives are low in carbohydrates - alfalfa sprout has 2.1g of total carbs per 100 grams and chive has 4.4g of carbohydrates.
The carbs in alfalfa sprouts are made of 90% dietary fiber and 10% sugar, whereas the carbs in chives comprise of 57% dietary fiber and 43% sugar.
dietary fiber
Chive is a great source of dietary fiber and it has 32% more dietary fiber than alfalfa sprout - alfalfa sprout has 1.9g of dietary fiber per 100 grams and chive has 2.5g of dietary fiber.
sugar
Alfalfa sprouts and chives contain similar amounts of sugar - alfalfa sprout has 0.2g of sugar per 100 grams and chive has 1.9g of sugar.
Protein
protein
Alfalfa sprouts and chives contain similar amounts of protein - alfalfa sprout has 4g of protein per 100 grams and chive has 3.3g of protein.
Fat
saturated fat
Both alfalfa sprouts and chives are low in saturated fat - alfalfa sprout has 0.07g of saturated fat per 100 grams and chive has 0.15g of saturated fat.
Vitamins
Vitamin C
Chive is an excellent source of Vitamin C and it has 609% more Vitamin C than alfalfa sprout - alfalfa sprout has 8.2mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams and chive has 58.1mg of Vitamin C.
Vitamin A
Chive is an excellent source of Vitamin A and it has 26 times more Vitamin A than alfalfa sprout - alfalfa sprout has 8ug of Vitamin A per 100 grams and chive has 218ug of Vitamin A.
Vitamin E
Alfalfa sprouts and chives contain similar amounts of Vitamin E - alfalfa sprout has 0.02mg of Vitamin E per 100 grams and chive has 0.21mg of Vitamin E.
Vitamin K
Chive is an excellent source of Vitamin K and it has 597% more Vitamin K than alfalfa sprout - alfalfa sprout has 30.5ug of Vitamin K per 100 grams and chive has 212.7ug of Vitamin K.
The B Vitamins
Chive has more Vitamin B6 and folate. Both alfalfa sprouts and chives contain significant amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and pantothenic acid.
| Alfalfa Sprouts | Chives | |
|---|---|---|
| Thiamin | 0.076 MG | 0.078 MG |
| Riboflavin | 0.126 MG | 0.115 MG |
| Niacin | 0.481 MG | 0.647 MG |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.563 MG | 0.324 MG |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.034 MG | 0.138 MG |
| Folate | 36 UG | 105 UG |
Minerals
calcium
Chive is an excellent source of calcium and it has 188% more calcium than alfalfa sprout - alfalfa sprout has 32mg of calcium per 100 grams and chive has 92mg of calcium.
iron
Chive has 67% more iron than alfalfa sprout - alfalfa sprout has 0.96mg of iron per 100 grams and chive has 1.6mg of iron.
potassium
Chive is a great source of potassium and it has 275% more potassium than alfalfa sprout - alfalfa sprout has 79mg of potassium per 100 grams and chive has 296mg of potassium.
Antioxidants and Phytonutrients
flavonoids
Naturally occuring in fruits and vegetables, flavonoids are associated with many health benefits and used in a variety of medicinal and pharmaceutical applications. [2][3]
For specific flavonoid compounds,
| Alfalfa Sprouts | Chives | |
|---|---|---|
| Quercetin | 1.7 mg | 4.77 mg |
| luteolin | ~ | 0.15 mg |
| isorhamnetin | ~ | 6.75 mg |
| kaempferol | ~ | 10.0 mg |
carotenoids
Carotenoids are micronutrients commonly found in plants and some animal products. An example is beta-carotene, the notable carotenoid which is a popular source of Vitamin A.[4][5]
For specific types of carotenoids,
| Alfalfa Sprouts | Chives | |
|---|---|---|
| beta-carotene | 87 UG | 2612 UG |
| alpha-carotene | 6 UG | ~ |
| lutein + zeaxanthin | ~ | 323 UG |
Omega-3 and Omega-6
omega 3s
For omega-3 fatty acids, alfalfa sprout has more alpha linoleic acid (ALA) than chive per 100 grams.
| Alfalfa Sprouts | Chives | |
|---|---|---|
| alpha linoleic acid | 0.175 G | 0.015 G |
| Total | 0.175 G | 0.015 G |
omega 6s
Comparing omega-6 fatty acids, both alfalfa sprouts and chives contain significant amounts of linoleic acid.
| Alfalfa Sprouts | Chives | |
|---|---|---|
| linoleic acid | 0.234 G | 0.252 G |
| Total | 0.234 G | 0.252 G |
Customize your serving size
The comparison below is by common portions, e.g. cups, packages. You can also see a more concrete comparison by weight at equal weight (by grams) comparison.
Note: The specific food items compared are: Alfalfa Sprouts (Alfalfa seeds, sprouted, raw) and Chives (Chives, raw) .
Alfalfa Sprouts g
()
|
Daily Values (%) |
Chives g
()
|
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KCAL % |
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5% | calories | 5% |
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KCAL % | |
| G % |
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5% | carbohydrates | 5% |
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G % | |
| G % |
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5% | dietary fiber | 5% |
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G % | |
| G | 5% | sugar | 5% | G | |||
| G % |
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5% | total fat | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G % |
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5% | saturated fat | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G | 5% | monounsaturated fat | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | polyunsaturated fat | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | trans fat | 5% | G | |||
| MG | 5% | cholesterol | 5% | MG | |||
| MG % |
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5% | sodium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| 5% | Vitamins and Minerals | 5% | |||||
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin A | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | Vitamin C | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| IU % |
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5% | Vitamin D | 5% |
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IU % | |
| MG % |
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5% | calcium | 5% |
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MG % | |
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5% | iron | 5% |
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MG % | |
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5% | magnesium | 5% |
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| MG % |
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5% | potassium | 5% |
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MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | thiamin (Vit B1) | 5% |
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MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | riboflavin (Vit B2) | 5% |
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MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | niacin (Vit B3) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | Vitamin B6 | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | pantothenic acid (Vit B5) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | folate (Vit B9) | 5% |
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UG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | Vitamin B12 | 5% |
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UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | Vitamin E | 5% |
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MG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | Vitamin K | 5% |
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UG % | |
| G % |
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5% | protein | 5% |
|
G % | |
| UG % |
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5% | biotin (Vit B7) | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | choline | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | chlorine | 5% |
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MG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | chromium | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | copper | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | fluoride | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | iodine | 5% |
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UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | manganese | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | molybdenum | 5% |
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| MG % |
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5% | phosphorus | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | selenium | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | zinc | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| G | 5% | Water | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Starch | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Alcohol | 5% | G | |||
FAQ
Does alfalfa sprouts or chives contain more calories in 100 grams?Alfalfa sprouts and chives contain similar amounts of calories - alfalfa sprout has 23 calories in 100g and chive has 30 calories.
Is alfalfa sprouts or chives better for protein?
Alfalfa sprouts and chives contain similar amounts of protein - alfalfa sprout has 4g of protein per 100 grams and chive has 3.3g of protein.
Does alfalfa sprouts or chives have more carbohydrates?
By weight, both alfalfa sprouts and chives are low in carbohydrates - alfalfa sprout has 2.1g of carbs for 100g and chive has 4.4g of carbohydrates. the carbs in alfalfa sprouts are made of 90% dietary fiber and 10% sugar, whereas the carbs in chives comprise of 60% dietary fiber and 40% sugar.
Does alfalfa sprouts or chives contain more calcium?
Chive is a rich source of calcium and it has 190% more calcium than alfalfa sprout - alfalfa sprout has 32mg of calcium in 100 grams and chive has 92mg of calcium.