Microgreens which are a shorter form of fully grown vegetables being considered as healthier than fully grown veggies or greens are quite at costlier side.
But does it really contain the highest nutrients and is it worth every penny?
“Vegetable confetti” popularly known as Microgreens are also normally grown as like other plants but the microgreens are trimmed or harvested once they reach upto 4 to 5 cm in length within a few weeks.
Generally microgreens of coriander, basil,beetroot and many more are predominantly used in restaurants for garnishing or in salads. Studies proved that it possesses health benefits as well.
Are tinier one’s superior ?
Scientists in the US compared microgreens of 25 different kinds with that of fully grown vegetables and found nutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and carotenoids in higher concentration in microgreens.
Coming from a culinary standpoint, the flavours are always higher when the herbs are young which adds up both visually and with taste as well. Including these tiny herbs or microgreens prevents us from adding extra seasoning which is kind of an indirect health benefit.
Though the microgreens are mini versions, they are higher upon their mass in the matter of nutrients. It is also proved that the microgreens of radish, red cabbage, cilantro comprise of essential nutrients 40 times higher than their matured versions.
Why microgreens?
It is suggested to consume microgreens to obtain antioxidants, vitamins and other nutrients rather than gobbling the fully grown veggies. It is also likely to support the locals by including microgreens in your cooking. Microgreens not only offer a variety of flavour but also are advisable in keto or low carb diets. The tiny little microgreens offer a divergency in flavours like nutty, sweet, spicy, citrucy, crunchy what not!!
| Nutty | Sweet | Spicy | Citrucy | Light flavoured |
| Sunflower microgreens | Kale | Arugula Radish Mustard | Lemon Balm Lemon mint Lemon Basil Sorrel | Cabbage Broccoli Chard |
Studies have proved that this tiny version of greens contain higher concentration of vitamins, phyto-compounds and nutrients.
Sulforaphane containing microgreens like broccoli, kale, and red cabbage has a lot of health benefits:
- Anticancer
- Antidiabetic
- Antioxidant
- Anti-aging
- Antimicrobial
- Neuroprotective
One ounce mixture of broccoli, kale, and cabbage microgreen comprises sulforaphane present in 1.5 pounds of raw broccoli.
Sulforaphane containing microgreens are not the only microgreens with health benefits, but also different microgreens with higher levels of nutrient concentration add up to our health.
Nutrients in microgreens:
Microgreens contain nutrients 40 times more than that of fully grown greens. And they don’t have to be watered repeatedly like the matured greens.
Microgreens of red cabbage contain vitamin E 40 times and Vitamin E 6 times more than that of its matured version.
Cilantro microgreen contains beta-carotene three times more than the fully grown version.
Red cabbage, garnet amaranth, and green daikon radish microgreens contain Vitamin C, K, and E in abundance whereas Cilantro microgreens are rich in lutein and beta-carotene.
Studies proved that the compost-grown broccoli microgreens have 1.15 and 2.32 times more minerals, including calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, than its matured versions.
These nutrients are important for health and also some of the microgreens are anti-cancerous.
Final thought:
As microgreens are richer in nutrients than their matured versions, and provide a number of health benefits they are worth every penny. As it is also easier to grow microgreens on our own and prepare our own food, it is always better to include microgreens more than regular fully grown greens in our diet.
