Can These Trendy Foods Really Help Your Health?

JUST LIKE WIDE-LEG jeans and crop tops, certain foods have their moment in the spotlight. Sometimes these items offer health gains. Other times they just don't live up to the hype. Here, a few of the latest and whether you should make a purchase or take a pass.

- MATTHEW KADEY, MS, RD

THE TRENDY HEALTH HERO:

A MICROGREENS

Microgreens hold the middle ground between sprouts and baby greens. They come from the germination state of produce like radishes or kale.

THE PROS // These tiny plants deliver intense flavors, vibrant colors, and new textures. Radish and mustard microgreens add a fiery punch; arugula packs a peppery kick; and pea shoots taste like the freshest sun-kissed peas.

Research suggests that younger plants can have higher levels of certain vitamins and antioxidants than more mature plants, says Sharon Palmer, RDN, author of The Plant-Powered Diet. In fact, re rch found that, ounce for ounce, microgreens like cilantro and amaranth have a higher concentration of important nutrients, like vitamin C and K and beta-carotene, than their grown-up versions.

THE CONS // For most people, it would be hard to get all vegetable nutrition from microgreens, because portion sizes are smaller and shelf life is shorter. "It's best to use them to complement your diet," says Palmer. Compared with regular vegetables, they can also be shockingly pricey.