Amaranth Seeds: Benefits And Harms

Amaranth seeds are recognized worldwide as a healthy food and as an alternative to cereals with high gluten content. This grain has been known for over 7000 years. Unfortunately, it is not yet on mass sale. Basically, amaranth can only be bought in health food stores. And that’s a pity. It can be used not only for cooking cereals but also added to other cereals, muesli, and other dishes.

The nutritional value of amaranth

The main richness of amaranth is its high protein content. It is contained in 100 grams:

• Protein – almost 14 grams.
• Carbohydrates – 65 grams.
• Fiber – 7 grams.

The total calorie content of 100 grams of the product reaches up to 375 kilocalories.

Amaranth seeds are rich in minerals. Calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc – are all of these in the cereal.

In addition, it contains a number of B vitamins that are useful and necessary for human health: folic acid, riboflavin, thiamine, pantothenic acid, and vitamin B6. Vitamins A, C, E, and K – all of these are also found in amaranth. The seeds contain a lot of the amino acid lysine, which is not often found in other cereals.

Like many others, amaranth contains a number of useful unsaturated fatty acids: oleic, linoleic, and lino linoleic.

One cup of amaranth can provide 31 percent of the recommended daily value of calcium, 14 percent of vitamin C, and almost 82 percent of iron.

Small seeds of amaranth can be boiled and fried, germinated, or ground into flour. They are used to make healthy and nutritious oil.

Amaranth seed oil

Amaranth has its best medicinal properties when used in the form of oil. It is obtained from the seeds of the plant by pressing them, they contain up to 8% fatty oil. Its fatty acid composition is similar to corn oil, as it contains more than 50% linoleic acid. But still, amaranth oil is unique. First, vitamin E in its composition is in a particularly active form. Vitamin E in amaranth oil significantly reduces the risk of blood clots, increases the elasticity of the blood vessel walls, and lowers blood cholesterol levels. Amaranth oil also shows its healing properties due to the presence of squalene. It is used as an immunostimulant, and antitumor agent, in cosmetics and to normalize cholesterol metabolism. When squalene enters the human body, it activates regenerative processes, which allows it to easily cope with eczema, psoriasis, trophic ulcers, and any other tissue and skin damage. Thus, squalene is a substance that captures oxygen and saturates tissues and organs with it. Until recently, it could only be extracted from the liver of a deep-sea shark. Deep-sea sharks need squalene solely to survive severe hypoxia at great depths (lack of oxygen).

Amaranth seed fiber

Amaranth seed fiber is available in pharmacies and specialized departments of stores. It comes in the form of a powder intended for dietary use. It contains 50% fiber, 20% protein, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, iron, chlorine, etc. Fiber is a source of ideal protein, minerals, and water-soluble vitamins (PP, C, E, B1, B6, B2, B12).

The product helps to cleanse the large intestine, normalizes the composition of intestinal microflora, and helps to improve its function. The product is recommended for natural breastfeeding, dystrophy, severe psycho-emotional and physical stress, chronic colitis, dysbiosis, and prostate diseases, as well as for living and working in environmentally hazardous areas. The course of treatment is 30 days. It is necessary to pre-fill it with water (kefir or juice is better) and take 1-2 dessert spoons with meals (three times a day).

Contraindications to the use of amaranth seeds

Despite the many positive properties, any product can have a negative effect on the body. And amaranth is no exception in this regard.

Therefore, it is not advisable to use different variations of amaranth products (meal, seeds, oil, dried plant) for people who have

• pancreatitis;
• cholecystitis;
• bile-stone disease;
• individual rejection of the product;
• low blood pressure (hypotension).

The high content of vitamin E in seeds and oil can destabilize the reproductive cycle in girls who are still at the stage of puberty.

The leaves may contain a moderate amount of oxalic acid. Therefore, people with gout, salt deposits, kidney problems, and rheumatoid arthritis should avoid excessive use of the leaves.

To summarize, we can say that amaranth cereal can rightfully be considered a delicious nutritious food and bring many benefits to our body and health.