Awesome Amaranth: Eat this ancient superfood every day for remarkable health benefits (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you eat amaranth everyday? ›

The nutrients in amaranth can offer significant health benefits as a part of a healthy diet. It's a source of vitamin C, which is vital to the body's healing process because it helps process iron, form blood vessels, repair muscle tissue, and maintain collagen.

A ban on the plant was made on religious grounds. The Catholic Church found the use of small cakes made of amaranth seed and honey (sometimes allegedly mixed with human blood) in pagan rituals, to be eerily similar to using the host during Mass, and declared it blasphemy.

Once as fundamental to Central and South American diets as corn and beans, amaranth virtually disappeared after the Spanish banned it because of its use in Aztec human sacrifice rituals.

Various antioxidants and other nutrients such as the peptide lunasin found in amaranth are known for their anti-inflammatory and cancer-prevention properties. The anti-inflammatory properties may help prevent various diseases including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

For people with intolerance to lysinuric protein, eating amaranth may cause diarrhoea and stomach pain. Moreover, another side effect of lysine increase body's calcium absorption, and bring free, damage-causing amount of calcium in the body. So avoid taking large amounts of calcium and lysine at the same time.

Grain amaranth exerts its antidiabetic properties through improved calcium homeostasis in blood, kidney, and liver.

As the native cultures were pushed west, the colonists in the southeast went about eradicating the plant and its uses were mostly forgotten. In the eastern United States, when slaves started cooking with amaranth's leafy greens, similar to the celosia they used in Africa, it was given the racially charged name pigweed.

Amaranth also contains lunasin, a type of protein believed to have anti-inflammatory and cancer-preventive benefits. Its anti-inflammatory effects can help in reducing the risk of diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease.

The Greek word for amaranth means "unfading". This describes the bloom's ability to retain its color when dried. This meaning is used symbolically in I Peter 1:4 and 5:4, where the inheritance of the faithful is described as unfading. Thus, the amaranth became a symbol of immortality.

Amaranth was not only food and medicine for the body it was also valued as a divine plant. Prized as a gourmet food, amaranth was traditionally prepared like corn: cooked, popped or ground into a flour masa for tortillas, tamales and atolli (atole), a traditional hot beverage.

Do Mexicans eat amaranth? ›

Farmers like Cruz who grow amaranth have also developed a repertoire of recipes for the plant. Although the seed, flour and leaves of the bushy plant can all be consumed, cereal (the popped seeds) is the most commonly used form in Mexico.

Effective POST herbicides (Flexstar, Cobra, Ultra Blazer or Liberty in LL soybean) must be applied before Palmer amaranth is 3-inches tall. Full rates and high spray coverage is essential for all contact herbicides. Plants over 3" tall will survive these herbicides.

Those aiming to lose weight or keep their blood sugar levels in control can include amaranth in their daily diet. The word Amaranth means immortal and it is native to Mexico and Central America.

Amaranth leaves have lysine, an essential amino acid that is needed for energy production and absorption of calcium. It also promotes hair growth and good skin. Those who suffer from hair loss or greying will benefit significantly from eating amaranth leaves.

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Plus, its vast nutritional content means it packs a number of health benefits, too. Vandana R. Sheth, R.D.N. says amaranth also provides 22 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin B6 (compared to just 18 percent in quinoa.)

Several studies have found that amaranth could have an anti-inflammatory effect in the body.

People who develop a rash, difficulty breathing, or other signs of a severe allergic reaction after eating amaranth should seek emergency medical care. Consuming large quantities of fiber may also cause bloating and gas in some people.

100gms of Amaranth leaves carry only unbelievably light baggage of just 23 calories. Traces of fat and absolutely no cholesterol make them a healthy go-to food option, especially those who are watching their weight or who want to reduce it.

protein in grain amaranth ranges from 14.5% to 15.1% (Rodas and Bressani, 2009) and in leaf upto 14.3 g/kg with an average of 12.4 g/kg ( Prakash and Pal, 1991). The protein content in amaranth leaf is also higher than spinach, another leafy vegetable ( Table 6). The lysine in protein ranges from 40-50 g/kg. ...