Amaranth

What is Amaranth?

Since amaranth is essentially a seed, it is regarded as a "pseudocereal" as opposed to a grain. Buckwheat and quinoa are two more pseudocereal examples; they are also members of the Amaranthaceae family. Like other cereal grains and pseudocereals, amaranth seeds may be crushed into flour or left whole for preparation. Amaranth flour is a favorite ingredient among gluten-free bakers since it is devoid of gluten. Similar to cereal grains like rice and oats, amaranth is cooked by simmering and may be used in both savory and sweet dishes. This seed is somewhat bigger than a poppy seed, although it is still considerably smaller than other common grains.

How to use Amaranth? 

You may use the amaranth seed whole or grind it into flour. With a cup and a half of water for every cup of dry amaranth, it cooks like rice. Cooked in a tasty liquid such as tomato juice, it tastes amazing. Cooked amaranth may be substituted for rice in most recipes and used in soups, stews, and chili.

Amaranth benefits:

Protein, fiber, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron are all abundant in amaranth. It increases your strength, lowers your chance of fracture or broken bones, and maintains the balance of your digestive system. As to the USDA, there are 251 calories in one cup, or around 246 grams, of cooked amaranth grain.

◉ Antioxidant-Rich:- Antioxidants such as gallic acid and vanillic acid are abundant in amaranth. Free radicals are harmful consequences of regular cellular activity that antioxidants help combat. By fighting free radicals, antioxidants may prevent heart disease and minimize indications of aging.

◉ Reduces Inflammation:- Amaranth has the ability to lessen inflammation, which is linked to almost all medical conditions. The body's immune system becomes hyperactive when environmental and food pollutants accumulate, stimulating hormones and defense cells that cause tissue damage. We encounter autoimmune diseases such as leaky gut syndrome and inflammation in otherwise healthy body parts when the immune system overreacts and starts targeting healthy body components. This also applies to symptoms of fibromyalgia and arthritis, as well as celiac and irritable bowel syndrome. Amaranth is a fantastic tool for your body since it helps reduce inflammation, along with grains and meals high in protein.

◉ Supports Bone Health:- Amaranth grain contains calcium, which the body may utilize to build and mend bones. It is crucial to include foods high in calcium into your regular diet since it aids in the healing of weakened or fractured bones. A calcium deficit makes you more susceptible to fractures and osteoporosis, which is characterized by the formation of tiny holes or weak spots in the bone that may cause discomfort, fractures, and Dowager's hump. Consuming amaranth is an intriguing and practical strategy to boost the nutritional value of calcium, iron, and zinc, according to a 2013 research published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. Because the body needs calcium to function properly, it can prevent weakening and flexible bones, which increases the risk of fractures and breaks. Because the bones gradually accumulate calcium deposits, calcium contributes to bone strength.

◉ Helps Lower Cholesterol:- The effects of amaranth grain on cholesterol levels in animal models were examined in a 2003 research that was published in the International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research. Very low-density LDL cholesterol was lowered by 21% to 50% when amaranth grain was consumed. Since LDL is heavy in cholesterol and low in proteins, it is referred to as the "bad" cholesterol. As a result, this grain lowers cholesterol when consumed. By boosting fecal excretion or the frequency of bowel motions, amaranth also improved digestion. This is a result of amaranth's high fiber content. In the digestive tract, the fiber binds to cholesterol and pushes it out of the body. Consuming meals rich in fiber aids in the body's natural reduction of cholesterol. Because bile is formed of cholesterol, the fiber works on it and draws it out of the body via stools. This procedure lowers total cholesterol by forcing the liver to produce more bile, which depletes the body's cholesterol reserves.

Where to buy Amaranth? 

Buy Amaranth from the health food store in the USA, Alive Herbals.

Amaranth information (at a glance):