oxidative stress

Every day, we breathe in hundreds of toxins and absorb others through what we eat or drink. Our liver and body are constantly working to detoxify and eliminate these harmful substances. During these natural processes, free radicals can build up in the body. When free radicals become excessive, they raise oxidative stress, causing inflammation in our cells. If this inflammation isn’t managed, it can contribute to chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.

The dense antioxidant concentration in microgreens helps neutralize free radicals and supports the body’s natural detoxification pathways. These toxins and byproducts are then eliminated through the colon, sweat, or urine. Microgreens have proven benefits for heart and immune system health, fighting cancer, reducing cardiovascular disease risk, lowering resting blood sugar levels, reducing inflammation, lowering cholesterol, managing type 2 diabetes, and more.

The main reason adult vegetables can’t “detoxify” your body as effectively as microgreens comes down to nutrient concentration, enzyme activity, and bioavailability. Let me break it down clearly:

• Microgreens are harvested early in the plant’s life, when the plant stores concentrated antioxidants and protective compounds to fuel rapid growth.
   
• For example, broccoli microgreens have up to 40× more sulforaphane than mature broccoli.
  
   

• Microgreens contain active plant enzymes (like sulforaphane-releasing enzymes in broccoli) that help convert precursor compounds into their active detox forms when you eat them.
   
• Mature vegetables often lose some of these enzymes as they grow because the plant’s metabolism slows and tissues become tougher.
   
• Without these active enzymes, your body may not get the full detoxifying effect from the same volume of adult vegetables.
   

• Microgreens have thin, tender cell walls, making it easier for your digestive system to access and absorb nutrients.
   
• Mature vegetables have thicker, fibrous cell walls, which can make some phytonutrients less accessible to your body.
   

• To match the detoxifying effect of microgreens, you’d have to eat massive amounts of adult vegetables.
   
• Example: 2 oz of broccoli microgreens = sulforaphane in 5 lbs of mature broccoli. Most people can’t eat 5 lbs of broccoli in one day.
   

Adult vegetables are healthy and provide fiber, vitamins, and minerals, but microgreens are supercharged with concentrated antioxidants, active enzymes, and highly bioavailable nutrients, which makes them uniquely effective at activating detox pathways and protecting against oxidative stress and inflammation.

• Higher Nutrient Density
   
• Microgreens can contain 4–40× more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants per gram than their mature counterparts (e.g., broccoli microgreens are up to 40× higher in sulforaphane cabbage has 40x the vitamin E than adult counterpart).
   
• Rich in vitamins C, E, and K, carotenoids, and polyphenols — all potent antioxidants (more so than adult counterparts)
   
• Stronger Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Power
   
• Their concentrated phytonutrients help combat oxidative stress and inflammation more efficiently than adult vegetables.
   
• Excellent for supporting heart health, cellular protection, and detoxification.
   
• More Flavorful and Tender
   
• Have a stronger, fresher flavor that enhances meals.
   
• Great for salads, smoothies, sandwiches, and garnishes without cooking.
   
• High Bioavailability because of enzymes only found shortly after germination  
   
• Nutrients in microgreens are easier for the body to absorb because they’re less fibrous and more concentrated.
   
• Support Natural Detoxification

Did you know that broccoli microgreens are the #1 anti-cancer food? This is because they have the highest concentration of sulforaphane among all vegetables. In fact, you would have to eat 5 lbs of adult broccoli to get the same sulforaphane that's in 2 oz of broccoli microgreens. In fact, adult broccoli is the #2 anti-cancer food, meaning broccoli microgreens are the best (proven) method for reversing or preventing cancers through diet.

Sulforaphane is the most potent natural inducer of your NRF2 receptor. The NRF2 pathway is a critical cellular defense mechanism that plays a key role in protecting cells from oxidative stress and maintaining cellular homeostasis.

When we ingest sulforaphane, it activates the NRF2 receptor, which then modulates a group of enzymes known as phase one biotransformation enzymes. This reduces the expression of enzymes involved in activating carcinogens. Additionally, sulforaphane activates a group of enzymes known as phase two detoxification enzymes. These enzymes help neutralize toxic compounds, make them more water-soluble, and facilitate their elimination through the colon or bladder, preventing disease caused by inflammation.