Microgreens reduce weight gain, LDL cholesterol levels in the liver.
New research suggests that we should eat our microgreens, after finding that the red cabbage variety of the tiny vegetable may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Study co-author Thomas TY Wang, of the United States Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, MD, and colleagues recently reported their findings in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
Though small in size, studies have suggested that microgreens are big in nutrients. One study found that the tiny leaves of microgreens have up to 40 times the amount of nutrients – such as vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene – than the leaves of their mature counterparts.
Previous research has suggested that mature red cabbage may reduce levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
This is often referred to as “bad” cholesterol, as excess levels can raise the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.
With this in mind, Wang and team hypothesised that red cabbage microgreens may be even more beneficial for cholesterol levels, given their higher nutrient content.
The researchers found that supplementation with either red cabbage microgreens or mature red cabbage reduced weight gain induced by a high-fat diet, and the vegetables also lowered LDL cholesterol levels in the liver.
However, the red cabbage microgreens were found to contain higher levels of polyphenols and glucosinolates – compounds that can lower cholesterol – than mature cabbage, and mice fed the tiny vegetables alongside a high-fat diet showed much lower circulating levels of LDL cholesterol.
Furthermore, red cabbage microgreens were found to reduce levels of triglycerides – a type of fat that can increase the risk of heart disease – in the liver.
Based on their results, the researchers conclude that red cabbage microgreens may be more beneficial for heart health than mature red cabbage:
“These data suggest that microgreens can modulate weight gain and cholesterol metabolism and may protect against CVD [cardiovascular disease] by preventing hypercholesterolemia.”