A study conducted by researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the University of Maryland, College Park, discovered scientific evidence of the high concentration of nutrients in microgreens.
For purposes of the study, the researchers evaluated nutrient concentrations in 25 types of microgreens for the presence of four groups of vitamins and other phytochemicals. Findings showed conclusively that the leaves of microgreens contained between four and six times the amounts of nutrients compared to the mature versions of the same plants. There was some variety between which leaves held the highest concentrations of which vitamins.
According to study author Gene Lester, a researcher with the USDA, the study's findings “totally knocked me over.” In discussing the findings, he added that they “give us a new insight into plants because these are little tiny seeds barely exposed to much light at all, and yet those compounds are there ready to go.”
Lester doesn’t believe microgreens will ever completely take the place of full-grown, mature vegetables. “Microgreens aren’t going to replace a big, leafy salad that has lots of fiber and will give you a good sense of satiety. But if you throw a big bunch of microgreens on anything, that’s a pretty good shot of vitamins.”
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