This is a guest post written by Walt Fifer, a local microgreens farmer at Fifer Farms in Boulder, CO.
Something Isn’t Right
The health of our nation is in decline, and the statistics are alarming:
- 18% of teens have fatty liver disease
- Nearly 30% of teens are prediabetic
- More than 40% of teens are overweight
- Young adult early-onset dementia has nearly tripled since 2012
- Young adult cancers have increased 79% in the last 10 years
- 6 out of 10 adults live with a chronic illness
- 50% of adults have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes—compared to just 1% in the 1950s
- 74% of adults are overweight or obese
- 1 in 2 Americans is expected to develop cancer in their lifetime
- Rates of cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, upper respiratory infections, and autoimmune conditions are on the rise
- Autism rates have increased from 1 in 10,000 in the 1970s to 1 in 36 today
- Life expectancy in the U.S. has been declining for the most sustained period since 1860
And all of this is happening despite the fact that the United States spends more per person on healthcare than any other country.
Like I said… something isn’t right.
A Lifetime in Organic Farming
I remember setting up my little table at natural farming conferences in the 1980s, collecting signatures for a petition to pass the first organic farming bill—the Organic Farming Act of 1982. I believed that if this bill passed, we would be a much healthier nation in the future.
Little did I know that 40 years later, our country’s health would be worse than ever.
How did this happen?
What can we do about it?
The Power of Metabolic Health
Research shows that preventable lifestyle conditions are responsible for 80% of modern human deaths.
That’s the good news—because it means we have control over our health.
Recently, I was introduced to a vision of health that is both simple and powerful. It starts with our 40 trillion cells—the building blocks of our bodies. These cells depend on good metabolic health to function properly.
Metabolism is the process by which food is transformed into energy. When our cells receive nutrient-rich food, they create good energy, leading to good health. But when they receive poor-quality food, they produce bad energy, which results in poor health and disease.
Dr. Casey Means explains this beautifully in her book, Good Energy, which I highly recommend.
The Nutrient Power of Microgreens
For years, I’ve been growing microgreens. If you’ve been to the Boulder Farmers Market, you may have seen me there.
What Are Microgreens?
Microgreens are young greens, harvested 10–14 days after germination, at the cotyledon stage—when the plant has produced its first two leaves. They are “living foods” – purposefully utilized in their most nutritious and delicious state.
In the photo below, you can see sprouts on the left, microgreens in the middle and a more mature vegetable plant on the right.
Research comparing microgreens to mature greens has found that:
- Microgreens can contain up to 40 times more nutrients than fully grown greens
- They’re richer in macro minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium
- They’re richer in micro minerals such as iron, zinc and copper
- They’re richer in B vitamins, essential amino acids, folate etc!
- They have higher levels of polyphenols—antioxidants that support gut health.
- Their micronutrients support enzyme function and help maintain gut lining integrity
Soil depletion, over-farming, and food processing have stripped many nutrients from our foods. Microgreens offer a powerful way to replenish these missing nutrients and support metabolic health and help you create good energy.
How to Use Microgreens in Your Meals
There are many delicious ways to enjoy microgreens:
- Toss them into soups, salads, or any dish
- Mix them into omelets, tacos, or tortillas
- Blend them into smoothies and juices
- Top them on pizzas, sandwiches, burgers, or wraps
Want to Learn More?
Visit my website if you live in Boulder County and want my microgreens delivered to your doorstep. You cannot get these in supermarkets!
- They’re exceptionally fresh because they’re delivered less than 24 hours after they’re harvested
- They have enhanced shelf-life (minimum 7 days)
- They’re grown sustainably with less water, no fertilizer and no pesticides
You can try my microgreens for 1 week and if you don’t feel more HEALTHY, ALIVE and FULL OF ENERGY… I’ll give you your money back- that’s how confident I am!
I’ve also put together a guide for my customers on the benefits of microgreens. If you’d like a copy, simply email me at walt@fiferfarm.org and put Microgreens in the subject line.
Discover the amazing benefits of microgreens and how they can help you create good energy!
Walt Fifer
Note: Many of the statistics I cited in the beginning were obtained from a podcast interviewing Dr. Casey Means as well as from the book “Good Energy” by Dr. Casey Means.
- Click here for the podcast
- Click here for the book
