Are Microgreens sustainable? In many ways, they are. These little greeneries are not only good for you, they are also good for the planet. They are better for your health than conventional vegetables and are actually considerably tastier as well! What more could you ask for in a vegetable?
Good for Your Health: Did you know that eating broccoli microgreens on a regular basis will help to eliminate the risk of heart disease? This is because the chlorophyll content of this green is what gives broccoli its green color. Chlorophyll has been proven to play a significant role in positively affecting the circulatory system by increasing blood flow and decreasing LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. The more you have in your body, the better you’ll feel and the less you’ll be at risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes.
Good For the Environment: Have you noticed that some people are so committed to eating microgreens that they are growing their own? There are several environmental benefits associated with growing your very own greens. One of these is reducing your carbon footprint because microgreens have a very low emission rate when they are grown. Studies have shown that eating a diet that consists of at least twenty portions of fruits and vegetables per day is vital to both lowering your carbon footprint as well as helping to ensure the long term sustainability of ecosystems.
Better for Your Skin: When it comes to your skin, nothing is more important than eating a diet that is full of vitamins and minerals. The same holds true for microgreens vs sprouts. Studies have shown that eating sprouts is significantly better for your skin than eating a diet that is filled with non-organic fruits and vegetables.
More Nutritious Than Sprouts: While there are many benefits associated with hyperlocal farming, one of the largest contributing factors has been studies conducted on the subject of nutritional value. In this case, it was determined that consuming a diet that consists of at least twenty-five servings of fruits and vegetables per day provides the most nutritious meals possible. This means consuming a diet that is filled with vegetables, lettuce, celery, cucumbers, spinach, kale, broccoli, and artichokes would provide your body with the nutrients it needs to maintain healthy skin and overall sense of well being. Now, when most people hear this they usually assume that fruits and vegetables are only good for their bodies when they are still in the growing stage. This is not true; vegetables and fruits are full of fiber and essential vitamins and nutrients while they are still in their growing stage.
The health benefits do not stop there, because when you eat sprouts, you are eating theilage and the root as well. This will give your body an increased level of calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, and vitamin C as well as the protein needed to maintain muscle tissue growth. These things alone are enough to make eating microgreens worth their weight in gold. While these greens are packed full of nutrients, another benefit that they offer is their fresh, earthy flavor. Unlike many other types of sprouts and grains, microgreens are not over processed and don’t have any artificial additives added to them to preserve them.
Growing Microgreens Is Green Alternative #2: It takes energy to grow plants and converting that energy into food takes energy, which means more energy bills. However, with the use of hydroponics and indoor systems like the Paragon ROX, the energy requirements can be greatly reduced. The best thing about eating hyperlocal grown vegetables is that they are natural, safe, healthy alternatives to conventional grocery store produce. This means you are helping to save our planet while still getting the nutrients you need and eating delicious meals from vegetables that are healthy and delicious. The other great thing about eating your veggies is they are grown locally and pesticide free, all while giving you nutrient rich, nutritional vegetables.
The truth is, the hype surrounding microgreens is based on a bit of a misnomer. They are not certified organic vegetables, even though the label does say so. Because they are organically grown, they are considered as natural, which is a step above what most commercial vegs grown in America are sold at. However, microgreens are not certified because there is no legal requirement for organically grown foods. The only way you can tell if a microgreen is certified organic is to read the USDA website where they list all certified organic vegetables and how they are grown.