Aquaponics bok choi. thebittenword.com
March 26, 2018 Vegetables 6,246 Comments

“Our bodies are gardens, to which our wills are gardeners,” – William Shakespeare

All sorts of plants can be grown in your aquaponics system. We take a look at 3 aquaponic vegetables that do very well in any aquaponics system, plus the health benefits they have.

Leafy lettuce

Lettuce is often written off as ‘rabbit food’ but we feel it should be called ‘gorilla food’ – only for the strong! Lettuce (particularly darker leaved lettuce) packs a strong nutritional punch. It is bulky, low in calories, but very dense nutritionally. It keeps the body alkaline, meaning clean blood, a healthy body and a clear mind. It is rich in cellulose, which bulks out the bowels and aids in constipation.

The most nutritious varieties of lettuce have darker leaves. The very pale iceberg lettuce is great for fiber, but lacks in vitamins in comparison to its darker colored brothers. So if you’re looking to grow aquaponic lettuce, the darker the better!

Kale

Kale is a nutritional powerhouse, and has exploded in popularity in the US. In fact, the states is now officially kale obsessed – ‘Kale me crazy’ juice bar anyone? One cup of kale has 0 fat and only 36 calories, however this leafy vegetable is incredibly rich in major nutrients.

Aquaponics kale. Jennifer www.sweetoveg.com (Flickr)

Aquaponics kale. Jennifer www.sweetoveg.com (Flickr)

Fibre and sulfur in kale aid digestion and liver health, the fiber also works to lower cholesterol. There is a healthy balance of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which makes skin glow and hair strong. High calcium content is good news for your bones and vitamin A for eyes as they age. Aquaponic vegetables + superfood = wicked combo!

In fact…we could go on and on about the vitamins in kale and what they can do for you. All in all, the abundance of essential vitamins and minerals strengthen the immune system allowing the body to fight disease.

Pak Choi

Also known as Bok Choi and Chinese Cabbage, this is a leafy green vegetable with a high vitamin content. Vitamin C helps keep your immune system robust to fight infection and vitamin K is needed for healthy bones. Speaking of bones, a 70g cooked portion of pak choi contains as much calcium as a 125ml glass of milk. It also contains powerful antioxidants and phyto-nutrients to assist the body destroy free radicals around and to protect cells and reduce inflammation.

Lettuce, Kale and Pok Choi salad anyone?

Remember that all vegetables grown in an aquaponics system are 100% organic, making them extra healthy. The nutrients they absorb from the fish waste gives them everything they need to be the best versions of themselves – as opposed to a plant that has been grown in lackluster soil.

Aquaponics in India will soon be offering consultancy services. Please get in touch for more information.

Written by Pippa Woodhead
Being a health-nut, London born Pippa has struggled to adjust to the lack of availability of lettuce and kale since re-locating to India. Previously naive to the extent of the worlds food struggles, she has now become obsessed with sustainability in food production and especially in India where it needs it the most (plus she’s also hoping to get her hands on some kale any day now). When she’s not writing for Aquaponics in India, she is usually found with her head in a book or in the kitchen experimenting with new vegetarian recipes.