What are Microgreens
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Microgreens are vegetable greens, harvested just after cotyledon leaves have developed and just as a set of true leaves emerge. In general, they are harvested 10-14 days after planting, (some do take longer) 16-25 days.
They are used as a nutritional supplement, a visual enhancement, and a flavor and texture enhancement.
Microgreens can add sweetness and spiciness to food, can be used as a garnish to salads, also used in soups, sandwiches, pizza, eggs and smoothies. Chefs love to use them as visual enhancements to dishes.
How could something so small have so many nutrients in it. These plants contain essential vitamins, minerals phytonutrients and enzymes beneficial to your health. What really amazed me was that they were more nutrient dense than their full- grown counterparts. They had more than 21 times of the nutritional daily value per serving compared to fully grown veggies. These facts are from the Journal of Agricultural and food chemistry, ACS Publications.
Chronic diseases are a major problem in the U.S. and throughout the world. Data suggest that consumption of vegetables can significantly reduce the risk of many chronic diseases.
US Department of Agriculture and Health and Human Services recommend 1-4 cups of vegetables per day for males and 1-3 cups for females depending on their age. Our average intake is far below that amount.
Microgreens contain greater amounts of nutrients and health- promoting micronutrients then their full mature counterparts.
Microgreens, with their high concentration of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, when harvested in only 14 days have the power to help fill the nutritional gap in our diet for adults and children and is just the beginning to help decrease chronic diseases and help us towards a healthier society.
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