Buckwheat is not only an excellent grain alternative, but it also has a rich, nutty taste that makes it a delightful addition to several dishes. Let's find out all the benefits of this superfood.
Although buckwheat is often referred to as a grain, in fact, it is not. Buckwheat belongs to a group of foods commonly called pseudocereals. Pseudocereals are seeds that are consumed as cereal grains but don’t grow on grasses.
Highly Nutritious Grain
Buckwheat is gluten-free and is regularly used in cooking. It contains a variety of healthful nutrients. The most abundant minerals in common buckwheat are:
- Manganese. Found in high amounts in whole grains, manganese is essential for healthy metabolism, growth, development, and your body’s antioxidant defenses.
- Copper. Often lacking in the Western diet, copper is an essential trace element that may benefit heart health when eaten in small amounts.
- Magnesium. When present in sufficient amounts in your diet, this essential mineral may lower your risk of various chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
- Iron. Deficiency in this important mineral leads to anemia, a condition characterized by reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of your blood.
- Phosphorus. This mineral plays an essential role in the growth and maintenance of body tissues.
Buckwheat, like other cereals, has a high-calorie content (330 kcal per 100 g). Despite this, it is considered a “sports” and dietary product. Compared to other cereals, the content of fats and carbohydrates in buckwheat is low, and the amount of protein is relatively large. This makes buckwheat a real superfood.
Many athletes choose this product when they need to get rid of fat mass without losing muscle. Due to the content of polyunsaturated fats in the composition, buckwheat is useful for both sports and weight loss.
How to cook buckwheat?
Steaming.
Of course, the minimally processed product is the most useful, it retains all the micro and macro elements. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the method of steaming with water or milk, when the cereal is poured with hot liquid and left for an hour and a half, until it cools completely. In the morning, a healthy breakfast is ready. Steamed buckwheat can be supplemented with any fruits and berries.
Soaking (followed by short cooking).
Another way to cook buckwheat with minimal processing. Place the washed grains in a saucepan and pour cold water in a ratio of 1: 1. After soaking, you need to add a little more water and boil the grits for several minutes, salt. This side dish is ideal for meat, fish, tofu, chicken, mushrooms and vegetables.
Roasting and baking.
Fried and baked buckwheat is inferior to boiled in terms of benefits. Frying involves a large amount of oil, which will increase the calorie content of porridge. Roasting is a long-term processing at a high temperature. This cooking method will lead to the loss of trace elements and protein.
Buckwheat is one of the key ingredients in our Cocoa Maca Nutybite clusters. This superfood gives our granola special texture and unique flavor. It also contains other functional ingredients like a blend of nuts, cocoa, maca, and dried cranberries that are anti-inflammatory and loaded with vitamins and minerals.