Cucumber vs. Spirulina
Nutrition comparison of Cucumber and Spirulina
Ever wonder how your favorite foods stack up against each other in terms of nutrition?
We compared the nutritional contents of
cucumber
versus
spirulina
(100g each)
below using 2020 USDA and NIH data[1].
For a quick recap of significant nutrients and differences in cucumber and spirulina:
- Cucumber has 5.5 times less carbohydrates than spirulina.
- Cucumber has 70.6 times less saturated fat than spirulina.
- Spirulina has more beta-carotene than cucumber, however, cucumber contains more lutein + zeaxanthin than spirulina.
- Spirulina has more thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6 and folate.
- Spirulina has signficantly more Vitamin E than cucumber.
- Spirulina is an excellent source of calcium, dietary fiber, iron, potassium and protein.
USDA sources for nutritional information: Cucumber (Cucumber, with peel, raw) and Spirulina (Seaweed, spirulina, dried) . Have a correction or suggestions? Shoot us an email.
Calories and Carbs
calories
Spirulina is high in calories and cucumber has 95% less calories than spirulina - cucumber has 15 calories per 100 grams and spirulina has 290 calories.
For macronutrient ratios, cucumber is much lighter in protein, much heavier in carbs and lighter in fat compared to spirulina per calorie. Cucumber has a macronutrient ratio of 15:80:5 and for spirulina, 59:25:17 for protein, carbohydrates and fat from calories.
Macro Ratios from Calories:
| Cucumber | Spirulina | |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 15% | 59% |
| Carbohydrates | 80% | 25% |
| Fat | 5% | 17% |
| Alcohol | ~ | ~ |
carbohydrates
Cucumber has 5.5 times less carbohydrates than spirulina - cucumber has 3.6g of total carbs per 100 grams and spirulina has 23.9g of carbohydrates.
dietary fiber
Spirulina is an excellent source of dietary fiber and it has 620% more dietary fiber than cucumber - cucumber has 0.5g of dietary fiber per 100 grams and spirulina has 3.6g of dietary fiber.
sugar
Cucumber and spirulina contain similar amounts of sugar - cucumber has 1.7g of sugar per 100 grams and spirulina has 3.1g of sugar.
Protein
protein
Spirulina is an excellent source of protein and it has 87 times more protein than cucumber - cucumber has 0.65g of protein per 100 grams and spirulina has 57.5g of protein.
Fat
saturated fat
Cucumber has 70.6 times less saturated fat than spirulina - cucumber has 0.04g of saturated fat per 100 grams and spirulina has 2.7g of saturated fat.
Vitamins
Vitamin C
Spirulina has 261% more Vitamin C than cucumber - cucumber has 2.8mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams and spirulina has 10.1mg of Vitamin C.
Vitamin A
Spirulina has 480% more Vitamin A than cucumber - cucumber has 5ug of Vitamin A per 100 grams and spirulina has 29ug of Vitamin A.
Vitamin E
Spirulina has signficantly more Vitamin E than cucumber - cucumber has 0.03mg of Vitamin E per 100 grams and spirulina has 5mg of Vitamin E.
Vitamin K
Cucumber and spirulina contain similar amounts of Vitamin K - cucumber has 16.4ug of Vitamin K per 100 grams and spirulina has 25.5ug of Vitamin K.
The B Vitamins
Spirulina has more thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6 and folate.
| Cucumber | Spirulina | |
|---|---|---|
| Thiamin | 0.027 MG | 2.38 MG |
| Riboflavin | 0.033 MG | 3.67 MG |
| Niacin | 0.098 MG | 12.82 MG |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.259 MG | 3.48 MG |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.04 MG | 0.364 MG |
| Folate | 7 UG | 94 UG |
Minerals
calcium
Spirulina is an excellent source of calcium and it has 650% more calcium than cucumber - cucumber has 16mg of calcium per 100 grams and spirulina has 120mg of calcium.
iron
Spirulina is an excellent source of iron and it has 100 times more iron than cucumber - cucumber has 0.28mg of iron per 100 grams and spirulina has 28.5mg of iron.
potassium
Spirulina is an excellent source of potassium and it has 827% more potassium than cucumber - cucumber has 147mg of potassium per 100 grams and spirulina has 1363mg of potassium.
Antioxidants and Phytonutrients
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, spirulina has more beta-carotene than cucumber per 100 grams, however, cucumber contains more lutein + zeaxanthin than spirulina per 100 grams.
| Cucumber | Spirulina | |
|---|---|---|
| beta-carotene | 45 UG | 342 UG |
| alpha-carotene | 11 UG | ~ |
| lutein + zeaxanthin | 23 UG | ~ |
Omega-3 and Omega-6
omega 3s
For omega-3 fatty acids, spirulina has more alpha linoleic acid (ALA) than cucumber per 100 grams.
| Cucumber | Spirulina | |
|---|---|---|
| alpha linoleic acid | 0.005 G | 0.823 G |
| Total | 0.005 G | 0.823 G |
omega 6s
Comparing omega-6 fatty acids, spirulina has more linoleic acid than cucumber per 100 grams.
| Cucumber | Spirulina | |
|---|---|---|
| linoleic acid | 0.028 G | 1.254 G |
| Total | 0.028 G | 1.254 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.
Cucumber g
()
|
Daily Values (%) |
Spirulina g
()
|
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KCAL % |
|
5% | calories | 5% |
|
KCAL % | |
| G % |
|
5% | carbohydrates | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G % |
|
5% | dietary fiber | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G | 5% | sugar | 5% | G | |||
| G % |
|
5% | total fat | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G % |
|
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 % |
|
5% | sodium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| 5% | Vitamins and Minerals | 5% | |||||
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin A | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin C | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| IU % |
|
5% | Vitamin D | 5% |
|
IU % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | calcium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | iron | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | magnesium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | potassium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | thiamin (Vit B1) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | riboflavin (Vit B2) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | niacin (Vit B3) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin B6 | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | pantothenic acid (Vit B5) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | folate (Vit B9) | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin B12 | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin E | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin K | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| G % |
|
5% | protein | 5% |
|
G % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | biotin (Vit B7) | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | choline | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | chlorine | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | chromium | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | copper | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | fluoride | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | iodine | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | manganese | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | molybdenum | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | phosphorus | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | selenium | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | zinc | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| G | 5% | Water | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Starch | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Alcohol | 5% | G | |||
FAQ
Does cucumber or spirulina contain more calories in 100 grams?Spirulina is high in calories and cucumber has 100% less calories than spirulina - cucumber has 15 calories in 100g and spirulina has 290 calories.
Is cucumber or spirulina better for protein?
Spirulina is a fantastic source of protein and it has 87 times more protein than cucumber - cucumber has 0.65g of protein per 100 grams and spirulina has 57.5g of protein.
Does cucumber or spirulina have more carbohydrates?
By weight, cucumber has 5.5 times fewer carbohydrates than spirulina - cucumber has 3.6g of carbs for 100g and spirulina has 23.9g of carbohydrates.
Does cucumber or spirulina contain more calcium?
Spirulina is a rich source of calcium and it has 650% more calcium than cucumber - cucumber has 16mg of calcium in 100 grams and spirulina has 120mg of calcium.
Does cucumber or spirulina contain more iron?
Spirulina is an abundant source of iron and it has 100 times more iron than cucumber - cucumber has 0.28mg of iron in 100 grams and spirulina has 28.5mg of iron.
Does cucumber or spirulina contain more potassium?
Spirulina is a rich source of potassium and it has 830% more potassium than cucumber - cucumber has 147mg of potassium in 100 grams and spirulina has 1363mg of potassium.