Amaranth Grain

Description

Amaranth grain is a gluten-free grain that is high in protein, fiber, and essential lysine. The most important health benefits of amaranth grain include its ability to protect the heart, boost the immune system, strengthen bones, optimize digestion, and lower your appetite.

Amaranth Grain Nutrition Facts

Amaranth shouldn’t be eaten raw, as it contains certain toxic or undesirable components such as oxalates and nitrates that can be eliminated by boiling and proper preparation. However, there are also valuable antioxidant and phenolic compounds, as well as fiber, vitamins, and minerals that can have significant effects on human health. As per USDA National Nutrient Database, amaranth grain is a rich source of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, zinc, vitamins C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, vitamin A, and folate.

Health Benefits of Amaranth Grain

Let’s take a more in-depth look at the health benefits of amaranth grain.

Optimizes Metabolism

One of the most desirable elements of amaranth grain is the fact that it features lysine in much larger quantities than other grains (some grains have none at all). Lysine is an essential amino protein for the human body, which makes amaranth a “complete protein”. This is very desirable for human health, as it delivers all the essential amino acids to create usable proteins within the body, thereby optimizing metabolism and ensuring proper growth and development. [5] This is why amaranth grain represents a vital component of the diet for indigenous cultures and for those with limited access to diverse food sources.

Prevents Heart Attacks

The phytosterols found in amaranth grain have been connected to lowering cholesterol levels, while the significant levels of dietary fiber also help balance the cholesterol levels in your cardiovascular system, thereby lowering your chances of developing atherosclerosis and subsequently heart attack or stroke, says a report published in the Food Chemistry Journal. [6] The rich potassium levels found in amaranth grain further boost heart health by relaxing the blood vessels. [7] Potassium is a vasodilator, which means that it reduces strain and tension in the arteries and blood vessels by lowering blood pressure and reducing the chances of coronary heart diseases.

Improves Digestion

As mentioned above, amaranth grain contains a high level of dietary fiber, which can help optimize the digestive system and eliminate constipation, bloating, cramping, and serious conditions like gastric ulcers. [8] Dietary fiber also helps increase nutrient uptake efficiency and with the high concentration of nutrients in the grain, this is a very important effect of dietary fiber. [8]

Rich in Protein

Not only is amaranth grain a complete protein, but it also has much higher levels than other grains, even oats, which are commonly considered the best place to find plant-based protein. Plant proteins are easier for our body to digest and utilize than animal proteins, so shifting your overall  [9]protein balance to those derived from sources like amaranth grain makes your body run smoother and more efficiently in every way!

Hair Care

The unique chemical makeup up amaranth grain has some rather unexpected benefits as well, including being a wonderful way to flatten wiry hair and increase luster and quality. [10] Dr. Norlin J Benevenga, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Wisconsin, USA, in his report published in the Journal of Nutrition states that lysine is a critical amino acid that our body is unable to produce, so we must get it from our diet. [11] Amaranth has higher levels of lysine than other grains, which makes it very important for hair health. Lysine has been linked to stronger and healthier hair, better roots, and a reduction in hair loss. You can reduce greying and hair loss by adding amaranth grains to your diet, although the exact pathway this benefit comes from is somewhat unclear.

Prevents Osteoporosis

Boasting more than twice the calcium content of milk, which is the traditional access point for high concentrations of calcium, amaranth grain can be a major factor in your bone health and bone mineral density. [12] As calcium is an essential part of our bones, you can prevent or slow the onset of osteoporosis by adding this calcium-rich grain into your regular diet.

Celiac Support

Like some other grains and grasses, amaranth grain is gluten-free, which is good news for those who suffer from Celiac disease. [13] This prevalence of this disease has increased dramatically in recent years, partly explained by improved detection and testing techniques, but also due to a general change in our species’ dietary tolerances due to a wide range of environmental and dietary factors, says Dr. E.K Arendt, Department of Food and Nutritional Science, National University of Ireland, Ireland, in his report published in the Trends in Food Science & Technology Journal. [14] In the coming years, the number of those suffering from Celiac disease (gluten intolerance) is expected to increase, making gluten-free grains like amaranth increasingly important.

Boosts Immunity

Amaranth is a unique grain, in the sense that it has vitamin C, and this gives it an immune system-boosting edge over its dietary competitors. According to a report in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, with high levels of vitamin C, amaranth grain can boost your immune system, as vitamin C stimulates white blood cell production, and can contribute to faster healing and repair of cells, due to its functional role in the production of collagen. [15]

Weight Loss

Amaranth grain can effectively lower insulin levels in the body and simultaneously release a hormone that effectively tells our body that we’re full. [16] This is the opposite of the “hunger” hormone, which often causes people to snack between meals, leading to weight gain. [17] For those interested in losing weight in addition to gaining countless healthy effects, switching to amaranth grain might be your best bet!

USES - 

Amaranth can be used as cereal for breakfast, as flour in the Baking Industry and Biscuits. It is also used
in the preparation of porridge, soups, tortillas, drink, desserts, to enrich other flours, in the preparation of
chocolates products, energy bars, etc. Also we can obtain a puffed amaranth by a process of heat an
expansion like pop-corn. Due to its nutritional value Amaranth is considered an ideal diet for infants,
students, athletes, convalescents and elderly people.

The grain is popped and mixed with honey. In North India, it is called "RAJGIRA". The popped grain is mixed with melted jaggery in proper proportion to make iron and energy rich “laddus,” a popular food provided at the Mid-day Meal Program in municipal schools.
Amaranth grain can also be used to extract amaranth oil - a particularly valued pressed seed oil with many commercial uses.