Business of Agriculture March April 2019 Edition | Page 23

one may argue that fasting has been a part of Indian
culture for so long. Such diet fads may reduce calorie
intake but they end up causing havoc with daily
nutritional needs.
Benefits of Live Microgreens
Microgreens breathe life into a regular diet like no
other ingredient. These small green seedlings are
tasty, healthy and packed with loads of nutrients
essential for wholesome nourishment. Some of the
benefits of live microgreens are:
Packed with Nutrients: Researchers from the
University of Maryland discovered that microgreens
contain four to 40 times more nutrients than their
mature counterparts. Only a small quantity of
microgreens takes care of the nutritional requirement
of vitamins like C, E and K including vital nutrients
like beta-carotene and lutein. For instance, micro
kale greens are comprised of 29 calories per 100
grams. Microgreens taste delicious and do not require
cooking.
Microgreens
breathe
life into a
regular diet
like no other
ingredient.
These
small green
seedlings are
tasty, healthy
and packed
with loads
of nutrients
essential for
wholesome
nourishment
In fact, the Indian Market Research Bureau’s 2017
report states that protein deficiency among Indians
stands at more than 80 percent, measured against the
recommended 60g per day. Recent researches on the
causes of lifestyle diseases such as: blood pressure;
diabetes; cancer; etc. have laid more emphasis
on availing balanced nutrition from a holistic diet
that includes: fresh and raw vegetables; and herbs.
However, the routine selection of raw vegetables may
not be as safe or nutritious due to the increased use of
pesticides and other chemicals. The critical question
is how to bring the required amount of nutrients on
our plate? To overcome these hazards, microgreens
have emerged as the source of the most important
nutritional ingredients. New life was introduced on
plates by using microgreens in a daily routine diet.
One can make microgreens as a part of a healthy diet
in many unique ways.
calcium, iron, magnesium, lutein, etc. In addition
to the health industry, culinary experts love to add
these concentrated flavour bombs to enhance the
visual appeal of any dish. Some popular microgreens
include: arugula; broccoli; kale; radishes; parsley;
beetroot; etc.
What are Microgreens?
Microgreens are the first leaves that grow from the
seeds of flowers, herbs or vegetables. It cannot be
confused with sprouts or shoots. They are harvested
within 14 days of germination of the seeds. These
microgreens are a powerhouse of taste, visual
appeal and nutrition. They have up to 40 times
more nutrition than their mature counterparts. For
illustration, 50 grams of broccoli microgreens would
have nutrition of up to 2 kilograms of broccoli. They
are rich in vitamins A, B, C, K, E, beta-carotene,
Retain a High Level of Nutrients: Vegetables
are immensely nutritious but the nutritional value
diminishes because of pesticides, handling, and
cooking. The levels of some important vitamins
and minerals reduce when vegetables are cooked.
Microgreens are free from pesticides, depletion of
vital nutrients and exposure to any harmful chemicals.
Any recipe can be given a boost of nutrients with fresh
microgreens as they don’t require tedious harvesting.
The average fruits that people buy from the market
Business of Agriculture
| March-April 2019 • Vol. V • Issue 2
23