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Coriander (cilantro) leaves, raw

Vegetables Per 100 g · Per 100g serving
Data sources: 50 AFCD 23 SR Legacy

Coriander (cilantro) leaves, raw is a vegetable, providing just 23.0 calories per 100g. It is an excellent source of Vitamin K1, Vitamin A (RAE) and Iron, providing 258%, 57% and 56% of the Daily Value respectively. This vegetable is a useful source of fiber, virtually fat-free. Vegetables provide essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber with relatively few calories. They are a cornerstone of virtually every dietary guideline worldwide. Our database tracks 73 nutrients for this food, plus environmental footprint data.

23.0
Calories
kcal
2.1
Protein
g
0.60
Fat
g
3.7
Carbs
g
3.2
Fiber
g

Top Nutrients

☀️
Vitamin K1
310 µg
258% DV
☀️
Vitamin A (RAE)
515 µg
57% DV
💎
Iron
4.5 mg
56% DV

Data for 73 of 150 tracked nutrients

Nutrient Fingerprint

How this food scores across key nutrient categories, as a percentage of the daily recommended value per 100 g. Based on USDA DRIs for adults.

Complete Nutrient Profile

Macronutrients 10
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Water AFCD90.5g—
2%
Calories SR23.0kcal——
Energy (kJ) SR95.0kj——
Protein SR2.1g—
4%
Total Fat AFCD0.60g——
Carbohydrate SR3.7g—
3%
Fiber AFCD3.2g—
8%
Total Sugars SR0.87g——
Starch AFCD0.60g——
Ash AFCD1.8g——
Minerals 10
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Calcium AFCD86.0mg—
9%
Iron AFCD4.5mg—
56%
Magnesium AFCD30.0mg—
8%
Phosphorus AFCD54.0mg—
8%
Potassium AFCD540mg—
16%
Sodium AFCD45.0mg—
3%
Zinc AFCD0.55mg—
5%
Copper AFCD0.09mg—
10%
Manganese AFCD0.47mg—
20%
Selenium AFCD0µg——
Vitamins 29
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Vitamin A (RAE) AFCD515µg—
57%
Vitamin A (IU) SR337IU——
Retinol AFCD0µg——
Beta-Carotene AFCD3,060µg——
Alpha-Carotene AFCD45.0µg——
Beta-Cryptoxanthin AFCD20.0µg——
Lycopene SR0µg——
Lutein + Zeaxanthin SR865µg——
Vitamin C AFCD30.0mg—
33%
Vitamin D SR0µg——
Vitamin D (IU) AFCD0IU——
Vitamin D2 AFCD0µg——
Vitamin D3 AFCD0µg——
Vitamin E AFCD1.7mg—
11%
Beta-Tocopherol AFCD0mg——
Gamma-Tocopherol AFCD0mg——
Delta-Tocopherol AFCD0mg——
Vitamin K1 SR310µg—
258%
Thiamin (B1) AFCD0.10mg—
8%
Riboflavin (B2) AFCD0.18mg—
14%
Niacin (B3) AFCD0.20mg—
1%
Pantothenic Acid (B5) AFCD0.54mg—
11%
Vitamin B6 AFCD0.08mg—
6%
Folate AFCD126µg—
32%
Folic Acid SR0µg——
Folate (food) AFCD126µg——
Folate (DFE) AFCD126µg——
Vitamin B12 AFCD0µg——
Choline SR12.8mg—
2%
Fatty Acids 10
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Saturated Fat AFCD0.02g——
Monounsaturated Fat AFCD0.37g——
Polyunsaturated Fat AFCD0.05g——
Trans Fat AFCD0g——
Cholesterol AFCD0mg——
Phytosterols SR5.0mg——
Omega-3 ALA AFCD0g——
Omega-3 EPA AFCD0g——
Omega-3 DPA AFCD0g——
Omega-3 DHA AFCD0g——
Individual Fatty Acids 10
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Butyric Acid (4:0) SR0g——
Caproic Acid (6:0) SR0g——
Caprylic Acid (8:0) SR0g——
Capric Acid (10:0) SR0g——
Lauric Acid (12:0) SR0g——
Myristic Acid (14:0) SR0g——
Palmitic Acid (16:0) SR0.01g——
Stearic Acid (18:0) SR0.001g——
Linoleic Acid (18:2) AFCD0.05g—
0%
Linolenic Acid (18:3) SR0g——
Amino Acids 1
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Tryptophan AFCD0.04g——
Other 3
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Caffeine AFCD0mg——
Theobromine SR0mg——
Alcohol AFCD0g——

Nutrient Density Score

The NRF9.3 score measures overall nutritional quality per 100 kcal. It rewards 9 nutrients to encourage (protein, fiber, vitamins A, C, E, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium) and penalizes 3 to limit (saturated fat, added sugars, sodium). Higher is better; negative scores indicate the food is high in limit nutrients relative to its beneficial content.

518
NRF9.3 Score
Excellent · per 100 kcal
Poor (<0) Moderate Good Excellent (100+)

NRF9.3 index: Fulgoni et al. (2009), J Nutr 139(8). DVs based on FDA 2020 reference values.

Nutrient Interactions in This Food

Nutrients in this food that enhance or compete with each other during absorption.

✔ Synergies — nutrients that help each other

Vitamin C + Iron●●●

Vitamin C dramatically enhances non-heme iron absorption by reducing Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ in the gut. Adding 75 mg vitamin C to a meal can increase iron absorption 3–4 fold.

Hallberg et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 1989

Dietary Fat + Vitamin A●●●

Vitamin A is fat-soluble and requires dietary fat for absorption. Adding fat to a meal significantly increases beta-carotene and retinol absorption.

Ribaya-Mercado et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 2007

Dietary Fat + Vitamin E●●●

Vitamin E is fat-soluble and absorbed alongside dietary fats via micelle formation in the small intestine. Low-fat diets reduce vitamin E absorption.

Traber, Free Radic Biol Med, 2007

Dietary Fat + Vitamin K●●●

Vitamin K is fat-soluble. Absorption increases significantly when consumed with dietary fat, particularly for phylloquinone (K1) from plant sources.

Gijsbers et al., Br J Nutr, 1996

Vitamin C + Vitamin E●●●

Vitamin C regenerates oxidised vitamin E (tocopheroxyl radical) back to its active form, extending its antioxidant function in cell membranes.

Niki, Free Radic Biol Med, 2014

⚠ Antagonisms — nutrients that compete

Calcium vs Iron●●●

Calcium inhibits both heme and non-heme iron absorption when consumed in the same meal. The effect is dose-dependent, with significant inhibition at 300+ mg calcium.

Hallberg et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 1991

Zinc vs Copper●●●

High zinc intake induces metallothionein in enterocytes, which traps copper and blocks its absorption. Prolonged high-dose zinc can cause copper deficiency.

Prasad et al., JAMA, 1978; Fosmire, Am J Clin Nutr, 1990

Zinc vs Iron●●●

Zinc and non-heme iron compete for the same intestinal transporter (DMT1). High doses of one can reduce absorption of the other when taken simultaneously.

Rossander-Hulten et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 1991

Calcium vs Magnesium●●●

Very high calcium intake can reduce magnesium absorption by competing for shared intestinal transport pathways. A calcium:magnesium ratio above 2.6:1 may impair magnesium status.

Rosanoff et al., Nutr Rev, 2012

Fiber vs Iron●●●

Phytates in high-fibre foods (whole grains, legumes) bind non-heme iron and reduce its bioavailability. Soaking, sprouting, and fermentation reduce phytate content.

Hurrell & Egli, Int J Vitam Nutr Res, 2010

Fatty Acid Profile

Breakdown of fat types per 100g. A healthy fat profile favours unsaturated fats (mono + poly) and a balanced omega-3 to omega-6 ratio.

0.02g
Saturated
0.37g
Monounsaturated
0.05g
Polyunsaturated
Omega Fatty Acids
Linoleic acid (18:2 n-6)0.05 g

How Cooking Changes Nutrients

Estimated percentage of each nutrient retained after cooking, based on USDA retention factors for the “Other Vegetables” food category. Values of 100% mean no loss; lower values indicate nutrients lost to heat, water, or oxidation.

Key insights
⚡Folate loses up to 31% when boiled (drained). Boiled (water used) retains 85%.
⚡Choline loses up to 10% when fried. Boiled (drained) retains 100%.

Source: USDA Table of Nutrient Retention Factors, Release 6 (2007). Retention values are category-level averages — actual retention depends on cooking time, temperature, and water volume.

USDA Retention Factors

Environmental Impact

Environmental footprint per kilogram of food produced. Data represents the global average for the “Other Vegetables” category.

0.53
kg CO₂e / kg
Very Low Impact
0.37
m² land / kg
Land Use
103
L water / kg
Water Use
3.2
g SO₂e / kg
Acidification
How this compares (GHG emissions)
Potatoes (0.5)Chicken (9.9)Beef (99.5)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions0.53 kg CO₂e / kg
Land Use0.37 m² / kg
Water Use103 L / kg
Eutrophication4.9 g PO₄e / kg
Acidification3.2 g SO₂e / kg
⚠️ Important context about this data
  • Global averages: These figures are production-weighted averages from a meta-analysis of ~38,700 farms across 119 countries (Poore & Nemecek, 2018). Actual impact varies enormously by farming method, geography, and supply chain.
  • System boundary: Cradle-to-retail only — does not include consumer transport, home cooking energy, or food waste.
  • Soil carbon not included: This data does not account for soil carbon sequestration. Some argue that well-managed regenerative grazing partially offsets ruminant emissions; however, full lifecycle accounting — including methane, land-use change, and the opportunity cost of using land for grazing vs. reforestation — typically makes the net footprint of ruminant meat higher, not lower. This is especially relevant in temperate grassland regions like Ireland.
  • Not gospel: This data is informational and illustrative. It is useful for understanding relative magnitudes, but should not be treated as precise measurements for any individual product or farm.

Source: Poore & Nemecek (2018), Science 360(6392). Meta-analysis of ~38,700 farms, 119 countries, 46 product categories.

Global Supply: Vegetables

Top 10 countries by per capita supply of the “Vegetables” food group (kcal/capita/day, 2023). This is food group–level data from FAO Food Balance Sheets, not specific to this individual food.

1.
China; mainland
310
2.
China
306
3.
Albania
258
4.
North Macedonia
221
5.
Guyana
209
6.
Kazakhstan
204
7.
Oman
192
8.
Uzbekistan
190
9.
Tajikistan
186
10.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
183

Global Supply Trend (1961–2023)

+76%
1961: 38 kcal2023: 67 kcal

Source: FAO Food Balance Sheets (2023). Supply = production + imports − exports − waste, converted to kcal/capita/day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories are in Coriander (cilantro) leaves, raw?

Coriander (cilantro) leaves, raw contains 23.0 kcal per 100 grams, making it a very low-calorie food. The energy comes from 2.1g of protein (37% of calories), 0.60g of fat (23%), and 3.7g of carbohydrates (64%). Carbohydrates are the primary energy source.

What is Coriander (cilantro) leaves, raw most nutritious for?

The standout nutrient in Coriander (cilantro) leaves, raw is Vitamin K1, providing 310 µg per 100g (258% of the Daily Value). It is also a notable source of Vitamin A (RAE) (57% DV). Our database tracks 73 individual nutrients for this food, allowing detailed comparison across vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids.

Is Coriander (cilantro) leaves, raw high in protein?

At 2.1g per 100 grams, Coriander (cilantro) leaves, raw is not a significant source of protein. Pair with protein-rich foods like legumes, meat, fish, or dairy to meet daily protein needs.

How much fiber is in Coriander (cilantro) leaves, raw?

Coriander (cilantro) leaves, raw contains 3.2g of fiber per 100 grams — a moderate amount. This contributes to the recommended daily intake of 25-38g. Pairing with other fiber-rich foods like vegetables, legumes, or whole grains can help meet daily targets.