Why are microgreens nutritious? That’s a question I get asked a lot from new green-thumbs like me. Microgreens, or mindless green vegetables, as they are also known, are quickly gaining popularity among consumers who are looking for a way to eat healthier while still enjoying tasty food. Why are microgreens nutritious?
MICROGreens are safe for eating and delicious when they are sprouted. It’s a safe, reliable assumption that virtually all chefs use microgreens for their colorful, spiky garnish options and rich, creamy flavor potential. In fact, many popular restaurants serve these sprouts on everything from raw pizza crusts to pasta sauces.
There are several reasons why eating microgreens is good for you, though. First of all, they have a lot of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which are all vital to good health. They’re also a good source of protein, fiber, and essential fatty acids. Vitamin c is particularly important to pregnant women, since it helps prevent defects in the unborn child. Folic acid and potassium are also found in many fruits and vegetables, which are both good for ensuring good dental health and heart health.
What are microgreens good for? Well, depending on where they are grown, they can have higher levels of vitamin c than other vegetables. This means that eating a serving of microgreens containing vitamin c can provide as many as three hundred percent of the daily recommended amount of vitamin c for a typical person. That’s pretty amazing, especially considering that spinach is typically only found in the diet in the form of spinach soup!
The next benefit to eating microgreens is that they are grown with light, increasing their nutrition even more. Studies have shown that when spinach is exposed to high-intensity blue light, which happens during the period when the plant is growing, it produces beta carotene, which is believed to be an effective cancer fighter. And while there are no studies directly linking the two, many people believe that eating a diet that includes microgreens (especially broccoli microgreens) can help boost one’s immune system.
Of course, one benefit to eating microgreens is that they are much easier to prepare than traditional vegetables. Because they are smaller in size, they can go right into a hot pan or oven, rather than having to be cooked beforehand. This means that you can cook microgreens in your favorite way, including frying them, baking them, broiling them, and even grilling them. In fact, because of their light weight, microgreens may even be easier to eat raw than other vegetables!
Finally, studies have also shown that microgreens may help prevent cancer. Because of their high level of insoluble fiber, it makes up for itself in the digestive tract. But when it comes to cancer-fighting ability, the antioxidants in microgreens may be even more important. Because they are made up of higher levels of antioxidant-like compounds, the antioxidants in microgreens may provide additional protection from some common types of cancer.
So how do you choose what kind of microgreen to add to your diet? One option is to keep an eye on the sprouts in your garden. If you see any green sprouts (with or without an odor), you should be adding them to your diet! Microgreens are not only tastier and more nutritious than regular baby greens, but they are also high in antioxidants. With this information, you should be adding micro greens to your diet more often!
In addition to baby greens, another great source of microgreens is alfalfa sprouts. They too are high in antioxidants, which can reduce your risk of heart disease. They are low in saturated fat and sodium and high in dietary fiber. Sprouting alfalfa baby greens offers almost the same benefits as microgreens.
The next question you might ask is, “Do plants from my garden contain nutrients that are helpful for my body?” The answer to this question is not a simple yes or no. It depends on the variety of plant and its age. For example, there are many species of legumes that are extremely nutritious for adults. However, the fiber content may not be high enough for those who are very overweight. Legumes are high in fiber, so it is possible to consume large amounts without feeling fuller.
Plants grown in soil that is enriched with nutrients are more likely to have greater nutritional value than other types. For example, if your soil has been depleted of most nutrients except for potassium, then you have an excellent choice. On the other hand, if you are growing fruits or vegetables that are grown in soil that is largely devoid of nutrients, they are likely to lack nutritional value as well. So make sure that you are choosing plants that will actually grow well in your area. This means looking at how the plant will grow in the area where you live and then choosing the variety that will do best in that environment. While there are some foods that are naturally higher in these nutrients than others, by choosing those that are not organic, you are not increasing your child’s chances at developing good health.