Good afternoon, dear homebodies. Supporters of a healthy diet argue that buckwheat is one of the most valuable foods in their diet, the benefits and harms of which depend on many factors.
In addition, this plant can be used not only in the form of cereals, but delicious flakes and breads that retain all the beneficial properties of buckwheat and quality.
Buckwheat composition
Buckwheat is a low-calorie dietary product containing a whole complex of minerals, vitamins and nutrients that can bring tangible benefits to the human body when properly prepared and combined with other products.
And it is worth carefully studying the composition of buckwheat in order to make the most of all the positive properties during consumption and avoid mistakes that can reduce them.
Buckwheat contains:
- proteins;
- carbohydrates;
- fats;
- vitamins of group B (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6), E, PP.
- essential amino acids;
- nonessential amino acids;
- macronutrients (calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron);
- trace elements (manganese, selenium, zinc and copper).
The benefits of buckwheat for the body lies in the fact that its protein contains twenty amino acids, while twelve of them are indispensable, from which DNA molecules are built.
These proteins are nutritionally close to animal products, have a high energy value, and promote the binding and removal of radioactive substances. 100 grams of porridge meets 22% of the body’s need for complete protein.
Buckwheat contains a sufficient amount of fiber to stimulate the digestive tract, increase its motility and prevent constipation. The same property is possessed by buckwheat flakes, bread and sprouted grains.
The fats contained in this porridge are part of hormones, and are also a valuable source of energy for maintaining all the processes taking place in the body during the day.
Vitamins and microelements of buckwheat
The benefits of buckwheat are also explained by the content of B vitamins in it, which strengthen the nervous system by forming a protective sheath of neurons. They have a beneficial effect on the state of the cardiovascular system, liver function and the elimination of toxins from the body, which indirectly causes weight loss.
The high iron content allows, with the regular consumption of cereals, breads or cereals, to maintain a high level of hemoglobin in the blood.
Calcium and phosphorus from buckwheat are easily absorbed in the digestive tract and are involved in the formation of bone and muscle tissue. And potassium and sodium provide the work of such an important structure as the sodium-potassium pump, which ensures the transfer of nutrients to all cells of the body and removing decay products from them.
In addition, potassium helps to bind and eliminate excess salt, which prevents water retention, edema and high blood pressure.
Other trace elements are involved in all metabolic processes of the body, are part of hormones and enzymes, promote weight loss, and also help maintain healthy skin, hair and nails.
Buckwheat products
On store shelves, you can see not only raw light, dark cereals, buckwheat flour and flakes, but also ready-made crispbreads. Each of these products has its own positive properties.
But separately worth noting is buckwheat oil, the benefits of which for health and rejuvenation of the body have been proven by numerous studies of scientists.
This product includes:
- Stearic acid, often used in anti-aging creams, removes flaking, relieves irritation and protects the skin from adverse environmental factors.
- Palmitic acid is involved in the production of collagen and elastin, which maintain skin tone and prevent the formation of wrinkles.
- Oleic acid has the ability to retain the necessary moisture in cells, prevent the negative effects of free active radicals on their membranes, and inhibit oxidation processes.
- Linoleic acid soothes the skin and prevents inflammation.
All the minerals and vitamins that make up the buckwheat remain in the oil. As a result, it helps the liver absorb vitamins, lowers cholesterol and normalizes blood sugar, promotes weight loss, enhances immunity and activates hormone production.
Buckwheat oil, when used internally, protects the gastric mucosa from ulceration and promotes healing. Contraindication to the use of this product is only its individual intolerance.
But buckwheat bread can easily replace traditional wheat or rye bread.
Green buckwheat
The benefits of green buckwheat are explained by the fact that it is not heat treated. Raw cereals retain all the beneficial properties, which is very important for people who are on a mono-diet using this product, when neither salt nor oil can be added to the porridge.
Advice! For a greater effect, it is better not to boil light buckwheat, but pour boiling water over it. In steamed porridge, the destruction of vitamins does not occur, but in terms of taste, it is practically not inferior to boiled cereals.
It can be consumed in its pure form, added to salads seasoned with buckwheat oil, combined with vegetables, dairy products, fish and meat. Alternatively, you can steam the flakes with milk, dried fruit, or milk.
For vegetarians and raw foodists, sprouted green buckwheat is a valuable food, the benefits of which increase several times.
You can also get flour from light buckwheat, which can be used for baking bread, cookies and other flour products.
Fried buckwheat
Despite the fact that this product is fried, it retains much of what is useful for buckwheat that has not undergone heat treatment. It can be boiled, steamed with boiling water, ground into flour. Of course, fried buckwheat is not used in sprouted form.
Processed buckwheat flakes and breads combined with fruits or dairy products can replace a full breakfast, creating a feeling of fullness and providing the body with the necessary energy. This is very important during the period of weight loss, as it allows you to get rid of hunger and does not allow the body to deplete.
Fried buckwheat is very popular due to its taste, rather than beneficial properties. Children eat it with great pleasure, adding butter, milk or meat sauce.
Healthy buckwheat dishes
Everyone knows how useful buckwheat porridge, butter or flour is, but few people know about the benefits of jelly from it. Although for weight loss and cleansing the body, it is just a godsend.
To prepare this drink, you need to take buckwheat, fry it in a pan and grind it into flour. In this case, instant flakes will not work. Pour 3 tablespoons of flour with 300 ml of clean water and mix thoroughly until the lumps dissolve.
Boil the mixture and cook for another three minutes. Allow to cool, divide the jelly into two equal portions, drink in the morning and evening.
The course of admission is 2 months, after which the result of losing weight will be noticeable, swelling will subside, headaches will go away, the elasticity of the ligaments will improve, the joints will become more mobile.
Also, the positive properties of jelly include cleansing the blood vessels from cholesterol plaques and getting rid of stagnant bile from the liver.
How to cook buckwheat jelly
Another mixture, which is made from buckwheat and kefir, has the ability to gently cleanse the intestines from toxins and accumulated feces, contributing to weight loss and an increase in the level of vital energy.
To do this, you need to take 40 grams of buckwheat and pour them with a glass of kefir, leave this mixture overnight and eat in the morning on an empty stomach.
Contraindications
The benefits of buckwheat porridge are undeniable, but there are also contraindications to its use, which include individual intolerance to buckwheat and products made from it such as cereals, bread, flour and even butter.
In order to lose weight, many go on a buckwheat diet. That is, only buckwheat porridge is used in the diet for a week. The benefits and harms of this method of losing weight depend on the state of the body.
Such a diet should not be used by people who:
- Suffer from hypotension.
- Have a low hemoglobin level.
- Have an increased acidity of gastric juice.
- Pregnant women and nursing mothers.
In these cases, the positive properties of buckwheat can have the opposite effect and harm the body.