Health Benefits of Microgreens

 

Microgreens add color and flavour to dishes, but they also enhance the nutritional value. This is because, in spite of their small stature, they have more nutrients (in some cases) than the fully-grown vegetable alternative.

 

Rich in Minerals

While all microgreens will have slightly different nutrient profiles, depending on the type of vegetable microgreen you’re eating, they all tend to be rich in minerals like iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and copper. These minerals are needed for anything from healthy thyroid function to hormone balance to having enough oxygen in the blood to transport nutrients throughout the body. Zinc is also an immune booster, and magnesium can help promote restful sleep at night.

 

Antioxidant Support

Antioxidants help to fight oxidative stress in the body, which is basically the breakdown that happens with aging and as the cells succumb to oxidative damage. Antioxidants keep us in good working order at a cellular and mitochondrial level, which translates to being younger and healthier on the surface. Microgreens provide antioxidants and are a great addition to food items like smoothies, juices, and salads as nutrient boosters. You can even get more antioxidants per bite with microgreens than you can of the full-grown vegetables, thanks to the concentration of nutrients as the young plant is growing.

 

Protection from Chronic Disease

While this one might seem obvious, eating vegetables is tied to a lower disease risk, especially when it comes to heart disease and diabetes. There are plenty of vegetable options out there, but many people still struggle to eat them in high enough amounts. The benefit of microgreens is that you get more nutrients packed into a smaller serving size, making it a more achievable daily goal.

 

Specifically, microgreens are a wonderful dietary addition for reducing the risk of:

 

Diabetes: Thanks to the high antioxidant levels, which help to prevent blood sugar abnormalities and which might help improve glucose uptake in the cells, microgreens can help to address or reduce the chances of diabetes.

 

Alzheimer’s disease: Sometimes referred to as type 3 diabetes, microgreens can help reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

 

Cancer: While all cancers are different, the antioxidants in microgreens may be helpful in reducing the risk of certain kinds, most notably prostate cancer.

 

Heart disease: Microgreens can help reduce the inflammation associated with cardiovascular disease and also lower triglyceride levels.