First, let me explain why you might want to ask “Do microgreens have lectins in them?” This is an excellent question and deserves some attention. Your body’s cells are held tightly together by a complex network of proteins, including a variety of nutrients. Some nutrients are held tightly against other nutrients by a glycan chain, containing multiple chains of sugar molecules. As the glycan chains are broken down and made into amino acids, the individual amino acids go on to provide the energy your cells need to function.

One of the nutrients, a polysaccharide called galactose, acts like a section in your cell membranes. When a Galactose molecule gets into the cell of another microgreen, it attaches itself to the surface of the cell, where it releases its energy – in this case, it releases glucose to fuel the cellular processes that provide your body with energy. If you are consuming microgreens, the Galactose that has been released is drawn to the surface of your cell, and you get lots of glucose as a result. However, this glucose is not as efficient as more energy-efficient carbs – which explains the reason we typically have low energy after eating. In order to be effective, the glucose must be broken down into simple sugars rather than being wasted as waste in our cells. In this case, Galactose works beautifully.

So, do microgreens have lectins in them? Well, there are several sections that are present in the leafy green – including diallylazine, quercetin, rutin, disulphide and quercitrin. Interestingly enough, many of these plants are also antioxidants. The most notable among them, perhaps, is quercetin, which has been shown in many studies to have very powerful antioxidant properties. It may even slow down the effects of cancer.

Now, do microgreens have lectins in them that attack the cells? One of the most famous sections, identified by Dr. David Sinclair, is allyloside. This particular section may act as a coagulant, or something that helps the blood to clot. Interestingly enough, Dr. Sinclair noted that the same allyloside (a type of monocaprin) can cause premature death in laboratory mice. So, it may be a “disease killer” in cells… sort of like aspirin.

Does a bowl of micro green vegetables contain pectin? Yes, it does. It has been noted that while most lectins do not convert to cholesterol, some of them do, particularly those in garlic, onions and green onions. If you eat lots of raw vegetables, especially green onions, you should be worried about your health. But, if you eat a lot of cooked vegetables, especially spinach, peas, beans and carrots, you may not be as at risk.

Do microgreens have lectins in them that fight cancer? It’s not clear whether microgreen juice has any effect on cancer, but it could contain some antioxidants. However, just because a plant contains antioxidants, doesn’t mean it’s a good thing – it could be the antioxidants have been tampered with. It’s a very gray area.

So, does a bowl of microgreen have lectins in them? Probably not. However, if you’re a person who is concerned about their health, perhaps a small glass of microgreen juice might help. As a cautionary tale, though, please don’t drink too much of it, or you’ll end up with intestinal bloating.