• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Joy of Wellness

Living better and longer, Natural Health

Main navigation

The Joy of Wellness

What? Would you like to find?
Browse by categories
  • Weight Loss
  • Health and Beauty
  • Diets and Nutrition
  • Natural Remedies
  • Alternative Medicine
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Life in Fullness
  • The Joy of Wellness from A to Z
  • All topics

Amazing Amaranth: an extremely complete vegetable product

  • Do you want Young skin? Try aesthetic acupuncture.
  • Folliculitis: cure with garlic, clay and diet

Published: 07/23/2018 - Updated: 07/31/2021

Author: Dra. Loredana Lunadei, PhD

The Amaranth, this legendary and charitable plant, has been – along with beans and chia – one of the staple foods for Mayans, Aztecs and the Incas, and was their primary source of protein.  In those times, it was eaten as a seasonal vegetable or as a popped grain.  It was associated with religious rites, to the gods, and to the cosmic visions of those cultures.

Amaranth popping, gluten-free, high protein grain cereal

Today, amaranth is generally consumed as a sprout, which is abundant with enzymes, minerals, fiber and chlorophyll.  It’s also eaten popped, which is also used to make several snacks (combined with honey, peanuts, nuts, etc., and traditional Mexican sweets).  It can also be used for delicious meals, such as muesli, tamales, cakes, tortillas, breads, hot cereals, smoothies, juices, pinoles (a traditional Mexican drink), malts, flan, marzipan, cookies, fizzy drinks, soups, stews, etc.

Contents

  • Amaranth Properties
  • Medicinal uses
  • References

Amaranth Properties

Amaranth is an extremely complete vegetable product.  It stands as a very important source of proteins and vitamins A, B, C, B1, B, and B3.  It is rich in pholic acid and important minerals like calcium, iron and phosphorus.  It is one of the riches foods in amino acids, like Lysine.

The percentage of high quality proteins from this seed – used to make Alegrías, a Mexican treat – is greater than that of most grains.  It contains twice the amount of protein that corn and rice do, and 60 to 80% more than wheat.  Amaranth would be a great option for solving world hunger, as it could easily provide the population with the required proteins and calories, which currently are only found in some vegetable species, like rice, wheat, bean, millet, sorghum, potatoes, soy, etc.  Amaranth in undoubtedly one of the most promising foods in this world, and has been described buy the United States’ National Academy of Sciences as “the best vegetable food source for human consumption”.

Medicinal uses

This small plant, which is easily found in Mexico (pretty much growing on street corners, sprouting up anywhere there’s soil, sufficient light and water), has very medicinal uses as well.  Its leaves are used to treat diarrhea, and when combined with prickly pear and broccoli, it can be used to prevent colon cancer.

It is widely recommended to prevent and help treat conditions like osteoporosis, anemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension, constipation and diverticulitis.  It’s also used in cases of chronic renal failure, hepatic (liver) insufficiency, and hepatic encephalopathy.

Amaranth is a wonderful option so that those with celiac disease can enjoy grains risk-free, as the don’t contain gluten.  For athletes and those that participate in high intensity physical activity, amaranth comes highly recommended for its quality amino acids and vitamins. 

References

  1. Collar, C., Conte, P., Fadda, C., & Piga, A. (2015). Gluten-free dough-making of specialty breads: Significance of blended starches, flours and additives on dough behaviour. Food Science and Technology International = Ciencia y Tecnologia de Los Alimentos Internacional, 21(7), 523–536.
  2. Cheng, A. (2018). Review: Shaping a sustainable food future by rediscovering long-forgotten ancient grains. Plant Science : An International Journal of Experimental Plant Biology, 269, 136–142.
  3. Tang, Y., & Tsao, R. (2017). Phytochemicals in quinoa and amaranth grains and their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and potential health beneficial effects: a review. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 61(7).
  4. Galan, M. G., Drago, S. R., Armada, M., & González José, R. (2013). Iron, zinc and calcium dialyzability from extruded product based on whole grain amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus and Amaranthus cruentus) and amaranth/Zea mays blends. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 64(4), 502–507.
  5. Zhu, F. (2017). Structures, physicochemical properties, and applications of amaranth starch. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 57(2), 313–325.
  6. Venskutonis, P. R., & Kraujalis, P. (2013). Nutritional Components of Amaranth Seeds and Vegetables: A Review on Composition, Properties, and Uses. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 12(4), 381–412.

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Loading...

About the author

By Dra. Loredana Lunadei, PhD

Dr. Lunadei is a specialist in dietetics, nutrition and healthy eating. She studied at the University of Milan where she obtained her degree and doctorate. This is her Linkedin.

X
Fact Checked
This article is based on contrasted facts, technical reports and scientific studies carried out by expert researchers and doctors in the field. These studies have the endorsement of the prestigious international media in which they were published. References to these studies appear at the end of the text, in a specific section, or marked in brackets such as (1), (2),....

The articles on this website are written by a team of experts in dietetics, nutrition, beauty, emotional well-being and healthy living habits who approach the topics in an objective, impartial and honest way, to offer the different existing points of view on the nutrition and dietetics topics they deal with.
Reader Interactions

You may also be interested

  • Lichen Planus: its causes and natural treatments Lichen Planus: its causes and natural treatments This condition is not very common. Around 1% of the population suffers from it, and [...]
  • 7 Natural Remedies for Premenstrual Syndrome 7 Natural Remedies for Premenstrual Syndrome Premenstrual syndrome refers to a groups of symptoms that appear prior to a menstrual period. [...]
  • Anorexia and Bulimia: a cure from the root Anorexia and Bulimia: a cure from the root "I feel terrible, I'm nauseated just because I ate a handful of peas and another [...]

You are here: The Joy of Wellness » Diets and Nutrition » Amazing Amaranth: an extremely complete vegetable product

All about Health and Beauty

  • How to Eliminate Toxins from the Kidneys How to Eliminate Toxins from the Kidneys The kidneys are two organs located behind the abdomen, and their purpose is to eliminate [...]
  • Oregano Oil: potent remedy Against Fungus, Yeast and Infections Oregano Oil: potent remedy Against Fungus, Yeast and Infections Almost all oils that are extracted from spices, like thyme, cloves, rosemary, and oregano, are [...]
  • Prunes to Treat Diabetes, Cure Skin, the Intestines, Obesity, etc. Prunes to Treat Diabetes, Cure Skin, the Intestines, Obesity, etc. Prunes are not only a soft, sweet and delicious treat, they're also full of a [...]
  • Yoga and its Powers of Conception Yoga and its Powers of Conception I was surprised to learn that there have been studies from 2011 that directly related [...]
  • Dietary Vitamin B2 Benefits and Deficiency Dietary Vitamin B2 Benefits and Deficiency Vitamin B2 was given its name because it contains factors that promote development, one of [...]
Footer
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Copyright © 2022 · The Joy of Wellness
   
Disclaimer  About Us  Cookies Policy  Privacy Policy  Contact  Topics
The services, content and products on our website are for information purposes only. The Joy of Wellness does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment