Amaranth nutritional benefits that are quite impressive compared to his taste. Ancient grain with excellent nutritional qualities – a gift from the Aztecs. Have you ever tried amaranth? Well, you’re probably not remain especially fascinated by the taste, but its nutritional qualities are truly impressive. Amaranth is an ancient cereal, closely related to the customs and traditions of eating Aztec and successfully passed through the centuries thanks to its full range of useful substances. Amaranth (Amaranthus) is a type of annual plant, a close relative of occurring in our various amaranth, which grow mostly as weeds.
It is characterized by a height of approximately 2 meters with brightly colored leaves (colors vary from dark red through purple, orange, pink and even white). To his homeland is considered America. There are many species and varieties of amaranth, in different parts of the world are used for different purposes (as grains, leafy vegetable or ornamental plant) and the color of the seeds, which are the size of a lentil bean varies from white to orange. As cereal Amaranth is characterized by particularly high nutritional value, depending on the variety the crude protein content in the seed varies from 12 to 18%.
The seeds are extremely rich in lysine, as the balance of the remaining amino acids in them superior to most of the familiar cereals. It is believed that the homeland of this cereal is Central and South America. Before being discovered America, Amaranth was one of the main food crops of the inhabitants of the continent. He was one of the main cultures, participate in religious rites. Most often, amaranth is used as a side dish to various meats (and thus provides a diverse range of proteins), in the form of stuffing for various vegetables, in addition to soups.
Can successfully be applied and ground in the form of flour for preparation of pancakes, pastries and even as additive product in a variety of gluten-free flours. Some chefs cook popcorn from amaranth, which, combined with dried fruits, nuts and honey superb form healthy muesli for breakfast, suitable for children.
Nutritional value of cereal amaranth. A key feature of amaranth is a high percentage of protein – about 17%. It contains all the essential amino acids, the amount of lysine is three times higher than that of other cereals. Amaranth is rich in sulfur-containing amino acids that are essential for the proper functioning of the liver and the normal development of newborns. Cereal contains 8% natural fats, most of which are unsaturated.
57% of the content of starch is given, the size of the granules is relatively small, which ensures a good solubility in water and better digestion by digestive enzymes. Amaranth is a product that can be included in the menu of small children and persons suffering from gastrointestinal disorders. The seeds are rich in vitamin E, characterized in impressive anti-oxidant properties, also contain magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron and fiber, and when compared to wheat, the amount of these substances is 2 to 4 times larger.
Perhaps one of the most important characteristics which should be paid attention to is the lack of gluten, which often leads to food allergies. The absence of gluten means that it is an excellent alternative for people suffering from celiac disease. For those who intend to use the leaves of the plant it is good to note that they are also distinguished by good nutrition: fresh to contain 2-4% protein, vitamin C (80-200 mg / 100 g), carotenoids ( 3-5 mg / 100 g) and significant amounts of potassium, calcium and magnesium.