Amaranth is an ancestral pseudo-cereal, its cultivation dates back more than seven thousand years. Its consumption was prohibited by the Spanish, because the Mayan and Aztec cultures used it as part of their rituals. Today it is grown in Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, India, China, Russia, Germany and North America.
How is amaranth consumed?
The truth is that we are used to the grain, but it is consumed in different ways:
Leaves: Difficult to obtain in Spain since they are consumed as a fresh product. They would be cooked in a similar way to spinach
Grain: we can find them as such and add them to different stews such as soups, add them to legumes or rice. They are also used to make bread or they can be ground and with that flour make a vegetable milk or used in confectionery… They can even make amaranth popcorn. To cook the amaranth grain, wash the grain and cook 1 part of amaranth in 2 parts of salted water over medium heat for 7-10 minutes.
Flakes or puffed grain: we also find it as flakes or puffed amaranth to drink with milk or yogurt, incorporating it into breakfasts and snacks alone or combining them with other cereals. Amaranth flakes can also be cooked in just 5-6 minutes.
Amaranth oil: Expensive and difficult to obtain in Spain for dietary use.
Flour: it is used to enrich breads, biscuits, biscuits… mixing them with other flours or for milkshakes or biscuits rich in proteins.
Why consume amaranth?
Helps prevent colon cancer.
Due to its high fiber content, it is recommended for people looking to stay in shape.
Helps control gastrointestinal diseases.
Helping in diseases such as: Osteoporosis, Diabetes, Obesity, Constipation, Kidney Failure, Celiac Disease.
Due to its high content of tryptophan, its consumption is recommended for people suffering from depression, anxiety, panic attacks, schizophrenia, Asperger’s and autism.
Helps prevent all heart diseases. It is recommended for cancer patients, geriatrics. Its consumption is recommended for pregnant women and during lactation.
Benefits
Increases physical and mental performance
It is considered highly recommended for people who make a great physical effort. And also for students and other people doing intellectual activities.
Its low glycemic index makes it a good brain food. Its complex carbohydrates, vegetable fiber and proteins contribute, together, to facilitate a constant supply of glucose to neurons.
Helps with weight loss
it can be a good resource to increase the satiety of the diet, since instead of rice or pasta, amaranth can be used as a good source of fiber and protein that calms hunger and appetite more easily without offering extra calories, therefore, it can also be useful when we are looking to lose weight.
anticancer
Amaranth has several components that provide it with anticancer power and the fact that they appear in high concentrations in the same food is what makes it considered a food with great anticancer power. It is especially recommended to prevent colon, breast and prostate cancer.
It reduces stress
Because amaranth helps generate tryptophan and serotonin in the body, you can get a feeling of well-being by consuming it, thus effectively reducing stress.
friend of the heart
Regulates blood cholesterol levels by preventing the reabsorption of cholesterol produced by bile. Amaranth is richer in fat than oatmeal and these are of high quality, mainly polyunsaturated. For all these reasons, it is a heart-healthy food.
In addition, it has phenolic compounds, with an antioxidant effect, and beta-sitosterol, which helps to lower cholesterol. These compounds are also useful in cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
strengthens the bones
The combination of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus strengthens the bone system and helps protect against osteoporosis.
Champion in squalene
It is squalene is an antioxidant fatty substance with protective effects on the skin, the circulatory system and the intestines.
This substance was extracted from shark liver and anticancer properties were attributed to it. Amaranth is an abundant vegetable source.
Healthy gluten-free energy for celiacs
The main component of this seed is carbohydrates (59%), the vast majority of which are in the form of starch. And they are not accompanied by gluten as in other cereals.
Diets for vegetarians and vegans
For these diets, it is a food with a very high nutritional value since it provides proteins comparable to those of animal origin, iron with very good absorption when combined with the contribution of vitamin C and calcium in amounts greater than those of milk. Its consumption is highly recommended, even more so if it is combined with legumes or cereals.
Great supply of fiber
Amaranth contains higher fiber levels than most other cereals (6.7%). This favors the correct functioning of the intestine and the care of the intestinal flora. A high fiber content prevents constipation and improves intestinal transit.
Control bad cholesterol
This food prevents the reabsorption of cholesterol produced by bile. Regulates blood cholesterol levels, also has a compound called beta-sitosterol, which helps lower cholesterol.
Contains all eight essential amino acids
Its composition is characterized by the eight essential amino acids that contribute to the increase in muscle mass, as well as the active functioning of the brain. Minerals and vitamins also abound in amaranth, highlighting vitamins E, C and B complex.
Provides more fiber than other cereals
The fiber content of amaranth (6.7%) is higher than that of most cereals and contributes to the proper functioning of the intestine and the care of the microbiota or intestinal flora.
What if I eat too much amaranth?
By consuming it every day in a balanced way, that is, combined with other nutritious foods, it is possible to provide many benefits to the body.
Eating this food every day lowers cholesterol levels, prevents osteoporosis and heart disease. It also provides energy and helps keep the body in shape.