Amaranth benefits and contraindications Today we want to give answers to the following questions that we have received by email about amaranth. Does amaranth have benefits and contraindications? Does amaranth have properties and contraindications? Does amaranth have contraindications? What are the disadvantages of eating amaranth? Could you tell me what are the disadvantages of amaranth? What are the contraindications of amaranth?
To answer these questions, it is necessary to start with the basic botanical aspect of the plant.
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General and basic aspects
Amaranth is native to South and Central America. It was a staple in the Aztec diet and was used in religious rituals. It was cultivated on a large scale in Mexico and Central America until the early 16th century.
The religious use of amaranth in Aztec culture was seen by the Spanish conquistadors as a dangerous imitation of Catholic mass rituals, so its cultivation was prohibited. Since then, amaranth cultivation levels have remained very low.
The amaranth grain is now finding its way into baked goods and breakfast cereals in other parts of the world. It has recently been considered as a promising food crop due to its resistance to stress and its high biomass and grain yield potential.
Let’s see, below, the amaranth benefits and contraindications.
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Benefits and properties (seed)
To answer the questions: Does amaranth have properties and contraindications? And does amaranth have benefits and contraindications? we must answer the following:
A good source of protein The nutritional value of pseudocereals is mainly due to their protein content, with amaranth having a higher protein content than buckwheat or quinoa. Amaranth contains 16-18% protein, compared to values of 14% or less in wheat and other cereals.
Amaranth seed protein is especially notable due to its excellent balance of essential amino acids that the human body cannot manufacture. The protein composition of amaranth is close to the ideal protein according to FDA requirements for adults.
In particular, amaranth contains an unusually high percentage of the amino acid lysine, which is present only in low levels in wheat, corn, and rice. Lysine is an essential amino acid that facilitates the absorption of calcium and the synthesis of collagen, elastin, hormones and antibodies in the human body. An adequate amount of lysine in our diet is important and you can increase your lysine intake by replacing regular grains with amaranth grains.
gluten free grains Unlike most common grains, the proteins in amaranth are composed primarily of globulins and albumins, and contain little or no storage prolamin protein, which are the main components of the protein fraction of gluten.
Prolamin proteins are the main storage proteins in cereals and also the toxic proteins in celiac disease. For people with Celiac Disease, amaranth is a good grain source choice in the diet. Amaranth contains more protein than any other gluten-free grain.
Rich in minerals and vitamins. Amaranth contains more than three times the average amount of calcium and is rich in iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. Amaranth ranks second in calcium content among all grains, second only to teff. A cup of raw teff contains 347 mg of calcium while amaranth contains 298 mg. In contrast, a cup of white rice only contains 52 mg of calcium. Amaranth is also a good source of magnesium.
One cup of amaranth contains 519 mg of magnesium, followed by buckwheat and sorghum. By comparison, a cup of white rice only contains 46 mg of magnesium. Also, amaranth is the only grain that contains vitamin C. It also contains a similar amount of vitamin E as olive oil.
A good source of omega-3 fatty acids. On average, amaranth grains contain 6-8% oil. Amaranth kernel oil is characterized by a high degree of unsaturation, making it a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. Linoleic acid is the most abundant fatty acid in amaranth (more than 50%) followed by oleic acid (25%) and palmitic acid. Increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids has been shown to be beneficial.
Reduces biomarkers associated with many degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancers, and inflammation. In addition, the current intake of omega-6 fatty acids and Omega 3 it is from 14:1 to 20:1 in Western countries, which is far from the recommended ratio of 5:1 to 10:1. Therefore, a higher intake of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids is recommended, like amaranth.
healthy blood pressure Amaranth contains peptides that inhibit angiotensin activity and lower blood pressure. Angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure and cardiovascular function. ACE generates the powerful vasoconstrictor that leads to the development of arterial hypertension with accompanying pathological symptoms. The anti-ACE activity of the bioactive peptides in amaranth makes it a good natural cure for hypertension.
stronger bones Calcium is crucial for bone health. Amaranth contains more than twice the calcium content of milk. Amaranth is also a good source of lysine which helps the body absorb calcium and reduce urine loss. Therefore, eating amaranth could help prevent bone loss associated with osteoporosis. Furthermore, studies also suggested that the combined intake of lysine and arginine makes bone-building cells more active and improves collagen production.
Also know Amaranth what it is for: lose weight, breast milk and more
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Benefits and properties (oil)
Did you also know that amaranth oil has properties and contraindications: here we detail them:
Relieves gastritis, ulcer disease, gastrointestinal inflammation, bladder, pancreatitis and cirrhosis. Substances contained in amaranth oil, prevent inflammation in the internal organs. Trace oil envelops the mucous wall of the bodies and heals wounds, protects them from exposure to harmful toxins;
Fight obesity and type II diabetes. Phospholipids, phytosterols and squalene oil improve fat metabolism and normalize the level of glucose in the blood.
help the heart Amaranth oil has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, being a useful tool in the treatment of hypertension, varicose veins, for the prevention of strokes and heart attacks. The amino acids contained in the oil, the heart rate normalizes elasticity of the heart muscle;
Has antioxidant power It is an antioxidant source that protects the body from free radicals and carcinogens. That is why sometimes take patients in the recovery period. Amaranth oil lecithin improves brain function and mental activity, normalizes blood circulation and sleep.
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Contraindications and side effects
Regarding the questions: Does amaranth have contraindications? What are the disadvantages of eating amaranth? Could you tell me what are the disadvantages of amaranth? What are the contraindications of amaranth? we answer the following:
Amaranth contraindications, disadvantages and side effects #1 For people with lysinuric protein intolerance, eating amaranth can cause diarrhea and stomach pain. Also, another side effect of lysine increases the absorption of calcium in the body and brings a harmful amount of free calcium into the body. Therefore, avoid taking large amounts of calcium and lysine at the same time.
Amaranth contraindications, disadvantages and side effects #2 For people with hypoglycemic problems, eating too much amaranth could be potentially dangerous due to its ability to lower insulin levels. Care must be taken in this case.
Amaranth contraindications, disadvantages and side effects #3 Due to the fact that amaranth contains oxalate, its consumption is not recommended for people with kidney stone problems.
Amaranth contraindications, disadvantages and side effects #4 Due to the components of amaranth oil, some people may experience disorders upon first ingesting the oil, including
- rashes on the body;
- nausea and vomiting;
- headache;
- diarrhea;
- heartburn.
However, these disappear as the body gets used to this oil.
If you want to know more about amaranth benefits and contraindications, you can ask your question in the comments section that is just below this article.
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Reference:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31599971
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