The popularity of microgreens has exploded in recent years, as more people discover that these little beauties are nutrient dense. What are microgreens? Microgreens are a group of related plant species that have sprouted green leaves and turned into tiny, almost tiny, leaves. The plants are the spitting image of the daffodils and corms that were popular in the 1960s. They look very much like they should have.
So, are microgreens nutrient dense? The answer is yes. Microgreens are loaded with nutrients that your body needs, but probably does not get enough of in modern diets. When eating microgreens, you are getting all the nutrients necessary to promote good health. These little gems are full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals your body needs to be as healthy as it can be.
Unlike other fruits and vegetables, however, these plants are not high in calories. Even though the plants are small, they pack a wallop. The crunch of these plants cannot be beat by any crunchy snack. And, unlike a potato or a bean, microgreens are not fattening. In fact, they are quite the opposite.
So, are microgreens nutrient dense? The fact that they are so fiber rich is what gives them the “nutrient density” reputation. These little plants are loaded with fiber, which helps to keep your body regular. Getting plenty of fiber is one of the best ways to keep your digestive tract regular and to reduce constipation.
Another one of the things that make microgreens nutrient dense is that they contain carotenoids, which are actually related to beta-carotene. What you may not have known is that beta-carotene is responsible for giving foods like carrots and apples orange color. These nutrients add a lot of brightness to these foods. In other words, eating a large amount of carrots is good for you, but eating an abundance of dark green leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach is much better for your health.
It is also true that eating a high fiber diet is good for your overall health. But, when it comes to leafy greens, they are just too full of other nutrients for your body to absorb them all. This is where eating microgreens comes in. By supplementing these little fruits and vegetables with extra fiber you can get the amount of nutrients that your body needs. And, often enough, you will eat less of the other nutrients that are not good for you in the process.
The next question that comes to mind is “What about other whole foods that are also great for my diet?” For example, did you know that oatmeal is very high in fiber? And, did you know that flaxseeds are also very high in fiber? Both of these foods are also very high in antioxidants. So, by eating microgreens on a regular basis, you can get the amount of antioxidants that your body needs without increasing your daily dosage of antioxidant supplements. In other words, by eating leafy green vegetables on a regular basis, you can lower your risk of cancer and heart disease.
Last but not least, when you eat microgreens you are also getting a delicious treat. That is probably three times more than you will get from any other fruit or vegetable. Just think about how delicious a piece of chocolate covered pretzel tastes. And, as anyone who has ever eaten one can tell you, eating is always better when there is a delicious treat involved. So, are microgreens nutrient dense enough?
The good news is that they are high in both phytochemicals and fiber content. Phytochemicals are great for your health because they help to slow down the build up of cholesterol. Fiber content helps to lower your cholesterol levels while increasing your fiber content. So, the two combined can help to improve your health dramatically. And, the best part is that this combination of phytochemicals and fiber content make them great for improving your cardiovascular health.
If you are wondering whether or not this new addition to food is still counted as “leafy greens” or not, they are. The difference is that they are not high in calories and fat like traditional vegetables. So, while they still provide a high level of overall nutrition, they do not add any extra fat or calories to your diet. This makes them an excellent choice for adding as a low calorie snack food during the day, especially if you are trying to lose weight.
As you can see, there are many reasons why a low calorie food such as microgreens are added to the diet. However, it is always a good idea to make sure that the food that you are eating contains the appropriate amounts of nutrients. You should always try to eat a balanced diet, so don’t rely solely on one type of food to meet all of your nutritional needs. There are many fruits and vegetables that are low in calories and yet provide the important nutrients that you need. So, be sure that you do not get left out when it comes to enjoying a healthy and tasty diet.