AMARANTH: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews (2024)

FAQs

What precautions should be taken while consuming amaranth? ›

Precautions should be taken by people with special conditions. 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.

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.

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.

The seed, oil, and leaf are used as food. The entire plant is used to make medicine. Amaranth is used for ulcers, diarrhea, swelling of the mouth or throat, and high cholesterol, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. In foods, amaranth is used as a pseudocereal.

In an attempt to exercise violent control and oppression, the Spanish banned amaranth and imposed cruel punishments on the Aztecs for growing or saving amaranth seeds. But amaranth didn't entirely disappear. For generations, it became the best kept secret in Mesoamerica.

Amaranth is a nutritious, gluten-free grain that provides plenty of fiber, protein and micronutrients. It has also been associated with a number of health benefits, including reduced inflammation, lower cholesterol levels and increased weight loss.

Incorporating some of the higher protein grains can help people on dialysis meet their protein goals. Whole grains with protein include amaranth, millet, quinoa, teff and some whole wheat pastas. Breads and cereals made from whole grains may also provide a significant amount of protein.

On the other hand, earlier studies have found that because of the high digestibility of its starch, amaranth grain may not be suitable for diabetics. High GI foods promote hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia.

says amaranth also provides 22 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin B6 (compared to just 18 percent in quinoa.) "B6 plays a key role in producing serotonin which affects our mood and sleep," she says. The grain also contains high amounts of thiamine (B1), necessary for nervous system function.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties: Several studies have reported that amaranth may help prevent cancer. Various antioxidants and other nutrients such as the peptide lunasin found in amaranth are known for their anti-inflammatory and cancer-prevention properties.

Which is better spinach or amaranth? ›

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. ...

Like all azo dyes, Amaranth was, during the middle of the 20th century, made from coal tar; modern synthetics are more likely to be made from petroleum byproducts. Since 1976, amaranth dye has been banned in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a suspected carcinogen.

The rich protein content of amaranth seed helps reinforce the structure of hair strands, which are mostly composed of protein. Amaranth extract is high in lysine, an amino acid that helps protect hair from damage caused by heat, colouring treatments, environmental pollution and brushing.

Amaranth's magnesium content also plays a role in keeping your muscles and bones in peak condition, but that's not its only superpower. "Studies have also shown that magnesium helps to reduce PMS symptoms and helps to boost mood and relieve anxiety," says Zeitlin.

results indicated that soaking amaranth grain in water decreased the phytate level significantly ( Table 2). The minimum phytate level result was achieved for soaking period of 24 hours and germination period of 72 hours. ...

As in many other plant-based food products, applying heat treatment to the amaranth grains seems to provide an overall improvement in digestibility of the nutrients they contain (Kauffman and Weber, 1990, Tovar et al., 1994).

While amaranth is considered easier to digest than some other grains due to its lack of gluten, it is high in insoluble fiber which can lead to digestive discomfort in some people. However, the extent to which amaranth is difficult to digest depends on factors such as age, health status, and diet.

Step 1: Rinse: Place amaranth in a strainer and rinse well in warm filtered water. Step 2: Soak: When possible soak amaranth overnight to improve digestion and increase the absorption of nutrients.