Why This Doctor Thinks You Should Add Microgreens To Your Diet

When we spoke with women's health expert Wendie Trubow, M.D., about health trends for the new year, she shared what grocery item she would tell a patient to add to their shopping lists this year. Her simple answer? Microgreens.

Microgreens are a type of vegetable greens that are harvested right after the leaves of the veggie have developed. Considered a mix between sprouts and baby greens, microgreens are typically used as a garnish for different dishes (think soups, salads, and sandwiches). But there is more to these greens besides being a topping to your favorite dish.

In addition to their great taste, microgreens have an unusually high nutritional value. They are chock-full of all sorts of vitamins like C, E, and K, along with the phytonutrient carotenoid, which has been shown to support immune function1.

A 2014 study conducted by the USDA looked at 25 varieties of microgreens, testing to see how their nutrients compared to that of typical vegetables. According to their report, "In general, microgreens contained considerably higher levels of vitamins and carotenoids—about five times greater—than their mature plant counterparts, an indication that microgreens may be worth the trouble of delivering them fresh during their short lives."