I remember when I first heard the word Microgreen, I was like….tiny what?? I had never heard of them before so I started doing my research to get more information. We have all seen these little greens topping our meals as garnishes at a restaurant, but again, what the heck is a microgreen?
Microgreens are essentially the baby version of edible vegetables. Don’t confuse these with sprouts which have a growing cycle of 2–7 days. Microgreens are usually harvested between 7–21 days. They are rich in nutrients and often contain larger amounts of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants than their more mature counterparts.
Are They A Fad?
You would think that they are a relatively new discovery since not too many people really know what they are, but microgreens have actually been used by many chefs since the ‘80s. Being a person that grew up in the 80’s, that doesn’t seem like that long ago to me, but then I realize just how old I am… 🙁 haha
Back when they were first introduced there were only a handful of varieties, like arugula, basil, beets, kale, and cilantro. That number has grown to over 25 varieties now. There are many studies providing data on the wonderful health benefits they offer.
What Are The Benefits?
As noted above, these little “nutrition powerhouses” are chuck full of…you guessed it, nutrition. So if you are looking for an energy boost, or a healthy snack for yourself and your family, they have you covered.
If you have serious health concerns, here are more benefits they can provide;
- Improve heart health by helping lower LDL
- Cancer fighting properties, inhibits growth of cancer cells
- Aid in digestive health
- Boost brain function
- Improve respiratory system
- Reduce inflammation
- Improve your skin and eye health
- Can reduce the effect of Alzeimer’s
- Loaded with nutrients, such as vitamins C, E, and K, lutein, and beta-carotene
- Certain varieties have 40x the nutritional punch of their mature counterpart
You gotta love these little fellas!!
How do you eat them?
Microgreens are so much more then just a garnish, they are great in juices, smoothies, salads, on sandwiches, burgers or on your steak! You can add them to your eggs, or just grab a handful and eat them on their own. You can add the spicy ones to your stirfries or meals just before serving, to give that extra ‘kick’ that spicy lovers love. As you can see, the only limit is your own imagination!