What are microgreens more nutritious than other vegetables? Microgreens are very similar to spinach and chard, but they are slightly smaller and have a stronger flavor. Some people liken eating micro greens with artichoke or other more traditional vegetables as if you were eating a piece of steak. I know that eating something like this would be nice for me – but there are many other benefits to eating these vegetables as well. Here are some reasons why you may want to consider growing your own microgreens.
One important benefit of eating microgreens is that they are a form of a darker green leafy vegetable. Dark leafy greens have high amounts of antioxidants. These antioxidants are necessary for helping your body fight off cancer as well as disease. The higher antioxidant content helps fight the effects of free radicals in your body. Free radicals are created from the natural oxidation process in our bodies and they can cause harm to your health over time.
Did you know that most fruit and vegetables are not considered to be high in antioxidants? One reason that I recommend growing microgreens versus baby greens is because of their antioxidant content. Some common vegetables such as carrots, beets, cabbage and lettuce do not contain antioxidants at all. On the other hand, you can find plenty of antioxidants in the leafy greens such as kale, spinach, cabbage and microgreens.
One nutrient that you do want to look for in nutrient rich microgreens is beta carotene. This nutrient is found in pink grapefruits, cantaloupes, tomatoes and baby red cabbage. The beta-carotene content is often times added to the leaves of these vegetables in order to increase their antioxidant value. But, most of us do not eat enough of these foods, and they are not considered to be very nutritious.
Another great nutrient that you will find in a great variety of vegetables including many microgreens is lycopene. You may have heard of this nutrient being used in certain foods such as tomatoes and broccoli. Lycopene is also a great nutrient to find in nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast is a quick way to add healthy nutrients to your favorite recipes.
The final macro mineral that you should look for in nutritious microgreens is vitamin C. In addition to providing essential vitamins A and C, these little vegetables are also great sources of beta carotene. Studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between high levels of vitamin C and low incidences of scurvy. Studies have also indicated that men who consume large amounts of spinach have lower incidences of scurvy than men who do not consume this vegetable.
Although a microgreen is only about three times as nutritious as a mature version, it still has several benefits. Like other brightly colored vegetables, microgreens are an excellent source of beta carotene. They are also a rich source of vitamin E. Finally, studies have indicated that ingesting microgreens regularly can help prevent prostate cancer. Since prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer in men, it would stand to reason that increasing the amount of vitamin E you receive through eating a daily serving of this vegetable would greatly benefit your health.
As you can see, there are many nutrients in microgreens that are good for your health. One of the reasons why they are so good for you is because they are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help eliminate free radicals that could lead to cell damage and cancerous growth. There are also several studies that suggest that consuming vitamin c and phytonutrients from microgreens can help reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease.