Is Hydroponic Basil as Healthy?

At one of the farmers markets I go to, there’s a farmer with a hydroponic greenhouse, such that I can get fresh basil all year round. But I was always curious how hydroponic basil—grown in water—compared nutritionally to basil grown in soil.

Well, here we go. Same seeds; one in water, and one in soil. What do you think they found in terms of vitamin content, antioxidant content, and phytonutrient content?

The hydroponic basil won hands down; more antioxidant power, and more vitamins and key phytonutrients. Why? Because the basil doesn’t like it. It’s the same reason organic greens are healthier; they get bitten by bugs, and in defense, they manufacture more of those wonderful glucosinolate compounds that are so good for us. Likewise, under environmental stress, drowning in the water, basil may release these phenolic antioxidant phytochemicals, like rosmarinic acid, to protect itself, and we can reap the benefits.

To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video. This is just an approximation of the audio contributed by Serena.

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• Sgherria C, Cecconamia S, Pinzinob C, Navari-Izzoa F, Izzoa R. Levels of antioxidants and nutraceuticals in basil grown in hydroponics and soil. Food Chemistry. 2010 Nov 15; 123(2):416-22.

Images thanks to Amanda Slater and Natalie Maynor via flickr.

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