You’ve probably seen microgreens being added by restaurants in their salads and other dishes and wonder why people are going gaga over it. It’s true that they add a pop of color to your dish, plus giving your meal a different or unique flavor, but there is more to these microgreens than meets the eye.
As a matter of fact, there are studies that show that these mini greens are actually rich in nutritional content, meaning that they have plenty of vitamins, minerals, as well as antioxidants compared to whole vegetables that we often eat. And the best part is that it’s not that hard to raise your own microgreens too!
For those who are just coming across microgreens, you’re probably wondering what health benefits you’re going to get from eating them. Here’s what you need to know about the benefits of making microgreens as part of your diet.
Presence of polyphenols
Polyphenols are natural chemicals that are present in numerous foods and contain high amounts of antioxidants. We all know that the antioxidants work by preventing the buildup of free radicals in our body which are known to cause cell damage. Eating microgreens has been found to reduce cell damage and can even protect us against heart disease because of the presence of polyphenols.
Convenient and easy to grow
Not everyone has their green thumb yet, but what’s great about microgreens is that they are not that difficult to grow. Beginner growers are enjoying starting their gardening dreams with this type of plant since it will not take months to reap what they have sown. Microgreens can be harvested after 14 days which is one of the reasons why many are looking into it.
Minimize risk of chronic disease
Like it was mentioned before, microgreens have been found to contain polyphenols, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that many consider this as a superfood with the amount of nutritional content that we are getting from it. And because of this, it is not surprising that these greens have been found to reduce certain types of chronic diseases such as prostate cancer, heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes just to name a few. Compared to eating regular sized vegetables, microgreens may have a better nutritional profile which means that you will be getting more health benefits from them.
Boost heart health
Studies show that heart disease is one of the leading causes of death around the world and one of the best ways to reduce your risk is to make modifications to your diet. Your heart’s health depends on your lifestyle, including your diet. There have been plenty of research that points to eating greens as helping prevent heart problems and this is where microgreens come in. Since microgreens are rich in antioxidants and other nutrients, adding it to your diet can give your heart health a huge boost. Combine this with a healthy diet and regular exercise and you will see huge improvements to your heart’s condition.
Rich in nutrients
If you are looking for foods that are nutrient-dense, this one definitely fits the bill. We all know that consuming green leafy vegetables is essential to our overall health because of the vitamins and minerals that they contain. Now imagine packing all these health benefits into your microgreens and more. Microgreens contain a dense nutrient profile that may contain several nutrients that are found in separate vegetables. Now imagine this being found in these microgreens.
There is no doubt that microgreens come with an impressive nutritional profile which is why it is worth adding to your diet if you are in need of a boost to your overall health.
