We all have heard that eating healthy means you’re on the road to having an effective immune system. Fruits and vegetables in your daily diet are essential elements to improve health conditions and can help you lead and live a healthy lifestyle. However, as we speak of fruits and vegetables, this is a broad term that comprises various foods.
The way we consume them and their nutritional properties make a difference. Every fruit or vegetable may be different in terms of their properties and can be consumed as it is or in other forms. The main aim is to ensure your body is getting the most benefits out of it and that you are getting ample nutrients.
This is where micro-nutrients and greens come in; they both aid in following a healthy lifestyle and can enhance your daily diet routine.
What are micronutrients and greens?
Micronutrients comprise essential groups of nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals that your body requires in smaller amounts. Vitamins play an important role in terms of producing energy and positive immune function, while minerals assist in fluid balance, growth, and various other processes. Unlike macronutrients, your body needs relatively smaller amounts of micronutrients.
You can obtain micronutrients through the consumption of foods rich in absorbing minerals and vitamins. That’s because your body can’t produce such properties on its own.
Microgreens, on the other hand, are young vegetables, similar to sprouts (but are NOT the same). Microgreens grow from sprouts with leaves. After the cotyledon leaves and embryonic leaves have properly developed and their original leaves begin to emerge, the plant is classified as a microgreen. Harvest takes place 7-21 days after the microgreen develops.
They come in a diverse range of colors, flavors, and texture, depending on the herb or vegetable they grow from.
Types of microgreens and nutrients
Micronutrients
- Water-soluble vitamins- can be dissolved in water and is rich in especially B vitamins and vitamin C.
- Fat-soluble vitamins- cannot be dissolved in water but can in fat. Rich in vitamin A, E, D, and K.
- Microminerals- include common minerals like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, etc.
- Trace minerals-Inclusive of manganese, zinc, copper, and iron, needed in amounts smaller than microminerals.
Microgreens
The following plant seeds are used for some of the microgreen production:
- Brassicaceae family: Watercress, cabbage, broccoli.
- Apiaceae family: Celery, carrot, dill.
- Amaryllidaceae family: Leek, onion, garlic.
- Amaranthaceae family: beet, spinach, amaranth.
Benefits of micronutrients and greens
- Lower risk of heart disease
- Lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease
- Prevents diabetes
- Battles certain cancers
- Reduces inflammation
- Aids in weight loss management
- Strengthens bones
- Brain development
- Toxin breakdown
How to add them to your diet?
You can add plenty of greens to your diet as a source of micronutrients. These are easy to incorporate into plenty of dishes and salads. If you’re up for it, blend them into your smoothies as well!
If you are finicky with what you choose to eat, you could try using powder supplements like our raw green juice powder. This is an easy way to increase your intake of all necessary vitamins and minerals while making sure you just have enough of it.
A scoop of our Greens-a-Day is packed with probiotics and 53 other nutrients guaranteed to help you lead a healthy lifestyle.