Sydney Holmes, a graduate student in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at CSU, was awarded the Undergraduate Choice Award at CSU’s Graduate Student Showcase, judged by a team of undergraduate scholars who designated her a Research Top Scholar for her research on the effects of microgreens on gut health. Holmes hopes this research will aid in further additions of microgreens into the food system, as they are sustainable and provide rich nutrients to the consumer.  

What inspired you to conduct this research?  

My adviser, other researchers, and I wanted to investigate the effects microgreens can have on different aspects of human health. I wanted to look at short-chain fatty acid production and gastrointestinal symptoms as one way that microgreens could affect health. If we find positive results with this research, this may indicate that microgreens could be good for gut health and other aspects of health. 

What impact do you hope this research will have?  

I think it would be great if there was an increase in demand for microgreens as they have interesting advantages they could bring to the food system. They can be grown sustainably and are also denser in some nutrients and phytochemicals compared to their mature counterparts which makes them a promising food to help diversify our food system and improve human health.  

What does receiving this award mean to you?  

It gives me a sense that people are interested in the topic of microgreens and their effects on human health. I also see it as evidence that I was able to convey the research I’m doing to others effectively, which is very rewarding. 

The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition is a part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.