The Best Microgreens for Athletes

Last week at the American Football Coaches Conference, we repeatedly answered this question at our Aquatree Booth: “What are the best microgreens for athletes?”

We were at the conference to launch our Aquatree Microgreen Towers for Athletes, providing on-site, living nutrition for the highest-level football programs.

Many elite athletes including College and Pro Football Players who are seeking peak performance are taking unregulated pills and powders. When they can get more bioavailable nutrition from eating freshly harvested microgreens, bean sprouts, and other vegetables.

Freshly harvested vegetables are the purest source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Microgreens, loaded with up to 40x more nutrients than mature veggies, are like nature’s nutritional supplements. It’s foundational nutrition that enhances performance at a cellular level. 

Eating all your veggie daily servings can be tough, but a Single Serving of Nutrient-packed Microgreens can fill many of those gaps.

The Five Best Microgreens for Athletes

These are the five microgreens, based on nutrients shown to help athletes recover faster and perform at higher levels, that we’d recommend eating for a performance edge:

1. Broccoli Microgreens – Simply put: Broccoli Microgreens support Strength, Stamina, and Fat-loss driven by a high concentration of sulforaphane. Sulforaphane is produced when cruciferous vegetables like broccoli are chewed, with broccoli microgreens having up to 40x more than regular broccoli.  The science: Sulforaphane has been shown to inhibit myostatin. Animals with lower myostatin levels have been shown to have significantly more muscle mass. Sulforaphane also activates the Nrf2 Pathway.  The NRF2 Pathway is the Master Regulator of the antioxidant response, activating genes that protect cells from oxidative stress, inflammation, and toxins. By reducing oxidative stress, it directly increases exercise endurance, as this study showed. 
2. Kale Microgreens: Simply put: Kale Microgreens support improved energy, oxygen transport, muscle function, protein synthesis, and fight inflammation. The Science: Kale microgreens are loaded with A, C, K and B-Vitamins. They are also an excellent source of iron, which helps red blood cells carry oxygen. The elevated levels of Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium supports muscle function, reducing cramps and improving recovery. Kale microgreens also have concentrated levels of chlorophyll, which is shown to improve endurance by boosting Oxygen Delivery.
3. Watercress Microgreens: Simply Put: Watercress benefits athletes by boosting performance, enhancing recovery, and reducing exercise-induced cellular damage, primarily due to its high nitrate and antioxidant content. The Science: Studies show that nitrates improve endurance during high-intensity exercise. Really? Isn’t that what every elite athlete is looking for? More endurance when performing at the highest intensity. Plus, Watercress Microgreens is one of the best plant-based sources of calcium, known for its role in bone health.
4. Brown Mustard Microgreens: Simply put: Brown Mustard Microgreens have concentrated vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants shown to aid in recovery, energy production, and reduced inflammation. The Science: High levels of Vitamin C, K, and E, plus Potassium, Magnesium, and Calcium aid in faster Muscle Recovery. Among Microgreens, Brown Mustard has one of the highest levels of Beta-Carotene, which has been shown to improve vision, cognitive function, endurance, and immunity. Nothing disrupts training more than illness. Boosting the immune system is super important for elite athletes.
5. Arugula Microgreens: Simply Put: Increased blood flow and oxygen delivery to muscles, faster recovery, reduced inflammation, stronger bones, better immunity, and sustained energy for athletes. The Science: Antioxidants like glucosinolates and carotenoids help combat exercise-induced oxidative stress and inflammation, speeding up muscle repair. Similar to Watercress Microgreens, Arugula has a high concentration of Nitrates that convert to Nitric Oxide, which has been shown to make your body more efficient during exercise.

Should Athletes Grow Their Own Microgreens?

Short answer: 100% Yes, Athletes should grow their own microgreens.

Why should athletes grow their own microgreens?

1. No Nutrient Degradation: The longer you wait after harvest to eat veggies and microgreens, the less nutrition they have. So, being able to harvest fresh microgreens every day on your countertop maximizes the vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant uptake.
2. No Pesticides: You know exactly where your food came from, reducing the chances of contamination.
3. They are fast & easy to grow: With Aquatree Garden, you just scoop seeds into our micro lid, a reusable microgreen grow tray. The continuous water flow does the work, and most microgreens are ready to harvest 7 days later. Set it and forget it. No Soil or Mess. No Green Thumb Needed.
4. Easy to eat: Having a continuous supply of fresh Microgreens on your countertop makes it easy to add them to your favorite dishes each day getting in your 4 oz of microgreens daily.