"Growing your own food adds years to your life and life to your years"
During these trying times of a global pandemic, with a fear of risking a grocery run and with kitchens falling short of nutritious greens, there is a renewed appreciation for kitchen gardens and microgreens.
Microgreens are young vegetable greens that fall in a category between sprouts and baby leaf vegetables. They have a strong aromatic flavor and concentrated nutrient content and come in a variety of colors and textures. Microgreens are known to boost our immunity with their high nutritious composition and are also very easy to harvest.
Packed with nutrients, most microgreens are known to be rich in potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium, and copper. They also have an added property of being rich in antioxidants. Due to their concentrated nutrient composition microgreens are known to have 40 times higher nutritious value than that of their more mature forms.
Eating an ample amount of vegetables and green leaves, in general, is considered a balanced healthy diet. Consumption of nutrition packed microgreens has added health benefits.
· Heart diseases: Microgreens being a rich source of antioxidants are known to lower the risk of heart diseases and also keeps a check on our cholesterol levels.
· Diabetes: Antioxidants in microgreens, for example, fenugreek microgreens, help in controlling body sugar levels.
· Alzheimer’s disease: Being rich in potassium and antioxidants, microgreens can be used to lower the risk of Alzheimer’s.
Microgreens can be used as garnishes or key ingredients in a variety of hot and cold dishes. They can be eaten raw in salads or blended into juices. Wheatgrass juice, for instance, is considered very healthy.
As a bottom line, microgreens are nutritious and flavorful and are a worthwhile addition to your diet. Given that they can be easily grown at home, they are a cost-effective way to boost nutrient intake without having to purchase large quantities of vegetables. Consumption of food becomes therapeutic, knowing what goes into the process of food reaching your plate.
