Nutritional Benefits of Sunflower Microgreens
When you think of sunflowers providing food, you probably think of the seeds. Sunflower seeds are a great, healthy snack. That's not the only way sunflowers can provide food and nutrition though. An increasingly popular thing is growing and eating sunflower microgreens. They're easy to grow and have a number of nutritional benefits.
Let's back up a minute. What are microgreens anyway? Microgreens are vegetable greens harvested in the early stages of growth, shortly after sprouting. The goal is to harvest them just after the cotyledon leaves have developed, and sometimes with one small set of true leaves. Cotyledon? The cotyledon is a part of the embryo within the seed of plants. It is sometimes referred to as the embryonic leaf, and is the first leaf to appear when a seed germinates and sprouts. Studies have shown that microgreens have higher nutritional value than mature vegetables.
There are a number of nutritional benefits to including them in your diet.
Zinc: Sunflower microgreens contain high levels of zinc, which is very important for reproductive health.
Protein: They are made up of about 24% to 30% protein. We all know the extreme importance of protein, and a lot of us don't get enough in our diet, especially from healthy sources like sunflower microgreens. They also contain 8 different amino acids, which are essential for the building of proteins.
Vitamins and minerals: Sunflower microgreens contain varying levels of the following: Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, B15, C, D, E, F, H, K, Calcium, Choline, Cobalt, Copper, Folic Acid, Flourine, Folic Acid, Iodine, Iron, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Silicon, Sodium, Manganese, Sulphur, Sodium, Selenium, and Zinc.
Low calorie: Sunflower microgreens are low calorie, which makes them great for weight loss and control.
Antioxidants: The microgreens also contain essential antioxidants. These are key in preventing or slowing damage to cells, and are beneficial in fighting cancer.
What's the best way to eat sunflower microgreens?
Not only are they healthy, they are also delicious. Sunflower microgreens taste a little like pistachios with a nice bite. They have a pleasant, crisp texture. Sunflower microgreens make a great addition to sandwiches, salads, soups, wraps, or scrambled eggs. You can also eat them by themselves, or maybe with some seasoning or dressing.
Where can I get sunflower microgreens?
Well, for one, you can grow them. It's really easy, and you can do it indoors. First you need to purchase some quality seed. Black sunflower seeds are commonly used. The seeds then need to be soaked before being dispersed in a tray with some soil. You have to keep them watered, and once they've sprouted they need to be exposed to light. Microgreens should be allowed to grow longer than shoots. Harvesting them when they're 4 inches tall is about right. Keep them refrigerated so they don't go bad before you use them.
If you don't have time to grow them, or don't want to go to the effort, you can buy them. A variety of microgreens, including sunflower, can be found at local farmers markets. There are farms that grow and supply them as well.
Sunflower microgreens are great way to get your nutrition. Give them a try!