UMD Researchers Find Microgreens to Have High Levels of Nutrients (2024)

FAQs

UMD Researchers Find Microgreens to Have High Levels of Nutrients? ›

Their results were surprising. Wang and Xiao found that microgreens contain four to 40 times more nutrients than their mature counterparts. More research remains to be done on their mature counterparts as well as other varieties of the microgreens themselves.

Early research has indicated that microgreens contain up to 40% more phytochemicals (beneficial nutrients and components) than their full-grown counterparts. Though these little greens are small in stature, they contain extremely high levels of powerful vitamins, minerals, and health-supporting components.

Yes, you can eat microgreens every day as part of a balanced diet. However, it's important to remember that microgreens should not be the sole source of nutrients in your diet and should be consumed in addition to other fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.

Sunflower microgreens provide much of your body's daily dietary requirements and essential nutrients. These tiny greens are a good source of vitamins A, C, E, K, and B6 as well as folate. Sunnies pack in plenty of iron and protein. They contain healthy fats like omega-3s and omega-6s for brain health.

Microgreens Are Nutritious

Microgreens are packed with nutrients. While their nutrient contents vary slightly, most varieties tend to be rich in potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium and copper (2, 3 ). Microgreens are also a great source of beneficial plant compounds like antioxidants ( 4 ).

Microgreens are clearly more nutrient dense, meaning typically they are more concentrated sources of vitamins and minerals. And like the full sized versions, microgreens are equally low in energy (about 120kJ or 29kcal per 100g based on US data).

Microgreens nutrition, broccoli, kale, and red cabbage, show very high concentrations of sulforaphane, scientifically shown to have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects.

In general, microgreens had low levels of oxalic acid, which is a predominant anti-nutrient in mature leafy vegetables.

Note that sprouts and microgreens should not be eaten by pregnant or otherwise immunocompromised people, as the moist growing environment fosters the growth of bacteria that may originate on the seeds.

Is it better to eat microgreens raw or cooked? ›

Cooking certain microgreens can make them less bitter and enhance their flavors but can also reduce their vitamin content. If you want to get the most nutritional benefit, you should eat them raw. Just be sure to wash them to remove any bacteria.

Considered to be incredibly nutritious, microgreens are also known as “superfoods” and may be harvested in between a week to three weeks (Zhang et al., 2021, Jambor et al., 2022).

Microgreens are typically not regrown after the initial harvest. The only microgreens that you can regrow is Pea and You can regrow it only once.

Amaranth and sunflower microgreens are packed with Vitamin D. The key signs of vitamin D deficiency include fatigue, weak muscles, soft bones, an increased risk of fractures, and susceptibility to infections.

Hydroponically grown lettuce microgreens were found to be 2.7 times more nutrient-rich than mature lettuce, based on the average ratio of ten nutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Mn, Cu, Zn, Na, and Fe). PAK CHOI: The content of 3-butenyl glucosinolates in pak choi was found to decrease from sprouts to adult leaves.

Nutrient solution: Microgreens can germinate without any fertilizer application. However, providing mineral nutrients to microgreens will increase yields. Providing 75 to 150 ppm N from a complete, balanced, water-soluble fertilizer will enhance growth, though the concentration to use depends on your production system.

Considered to be incredibly nutritious, microgreens are also known as “superfoods” and may be harvested in between a week to three weeks (Zhang et al., 2021, Jambor et al., 2022).

Some results say that microgreens can contain up to 40% more of these valuable phytochemicals and others say that Microgreen leaves were found to contain four to six times more nutrients compared to mature leaves of the same plant.

On a DW basis, dietary mineral concentrations were higher at the early stages of leaf development. In contrast, on a FW basis, baby leaf (BL1) contained more minerals and there was no difference between microgreens and adult kales.