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Many green leafy species have had their time in the sun. There was an age when you couldn’t eat anything without kale. Then there was the phase where peppery arugula was everywhere you looked. Now the age of Amaranth has arrived and it looks like it's slowly carving out a niche of its own. Fittingly for its new reign, the word Amaranth derives from the Greek ‘amárantos’ which means unfading conjoined with the Greek word for flower – ánthos – also to mean ‘the unfading flower’.
Native to Mexico and Central America Amaranth was a staple for the Aztecs and remains a huge part of the Central American diet even today. In India, it's known as ramdana which loosely translated translates to ‘the grain gifted by god' and grows abundantly in high-altitude areas in the north of the country.
The Amaranth plant has many different facets and can be processed into a variety of products. The leaves of the plant are packed with essential vitamins and nutrients and are very easy to cook like spinach in any dish. The Amaranth seed can be used as a rice substitute even though it’s considered a pseudocereal rather than a grain. The seeds can also then be ground into flour and used in baking like any other flour.
So we know that Amaranth can become a part of almost any of your daily meals but if you’re wondering why you should bother, read on.
1. Nutrients
Amaranth can provide a huge amount of nutrients and vitamins in every serving. Vitamin C, Iron, Manganese, Magnesium, and Phosphorus are all prevalent in this plant. It also helps restore muscle tissue and maintain collagen.
2. Naturally Gluten-Free
As it’s naturally gluten-free, Amaranth flour is a huge boon to people with gluten intolerance or Celiac disease as it offers an accessible alternative.
3. High in Protein
One of the richest sources of plant protein in the world, Amaranth protein is easily absorbed into the body and provides all the essential amino acids we need for healthy functioning.
4. Antioxidant-Rich
Amaranth is rich in antioxidants, including gallic acid, phenolic acids and vanillic acid. Antioxidants help fight free radicals, which are damaging byproducts of normal cellular activity, helping to reduce everything from signs of ageing to heart disease.
5. Eases Inflammation
Whether it's through disease or chronic illnesses, inflammation can be difficult to treat. Amaranth helps slow down the body’s production of Immunoglobulin E which can help in reducing inflammation.
6. Lowers Cholesterol
There’s bad cholesterol (LDL) and good cholesterol (HDL), and Amaranth could help you reduce the first without lowering the second thereby improving heart health and liver function.
