ROASTED BUCKWHEAT * NATURAL * GLUTEN FREE * KOSHER *PREMIUM QUALITY *2lb / 908g

Description

Premium Quality Roasted Buckwheat
100% NATURAL, KOSHER, GLUTEN FREE, VEGAN
Buckwheat
belongs to a group of foods commonly called pseudo-cereals.
Pseudo-cereals are seeds that are consumed as cereal grains but don’t grow on grasses. Other common pseudo-cereals include quinoa and amaranth.
Despite its name, buckwheat is not related to wheat and is thus gluten-free.
It’s used in buckwheat tea or processed into groats, flour, and noodles. The groats, used in much the same way as rice, are the main ingredient in many traditional European and Asian dishes.
Buckwheat has become popular as a health food due to its high mineral and antioxidant content. Its benefits may include improved blood sugar control.
Two types of buckwheat, common buckwheat (
Fagopyrum esculentum
) and Tartary buckwheat (
Fagopyrum tartaricum
), are most widely grown for food.
Buckwheat is mainly harvested in the northern hemisphere, especially in Russia, Kazakhstan, China, and Central and Eastern Europe.
This article tells you everything you need to know about buckwheat.
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Nutrition facts
Carbs are the main dietary component of buckwheat. Protein and various minerals and antioxidants are also present.
The nutritional value of buckwheat is considerably higher than that of many other grains. The nutrition facts for 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of raw buckwheat are:
Trusted Source
calories:
343
Water:
10%
Protein:
13.3 grams
Carbs:
71.5 grams
Sugar:
0 grams
Fiber:
10 grams
Fat:
3.4 grams
Carbs
Buckwheat mainly consists of
carbs
, which make up about 20% of boiled groats by weight
They come in the form of starch, which is carbs’ primary storage form in plants.
Buckwheat scores low to medium on the glycemic index (GI) — a measure of how quickly a food raises blood sugar after a meal — and should not cause
unhealthy spikes
in blood sugar levels (
3
).
Some of the soluble carbs in buckwheat, such as fagopyritol and D-chiro-inositol, have been shown to help moderate the rise in blood sugar after meals.
Fiber
Buckwheat contains a decent amount of fiber, which your body cannot digest. This nutrient is good for colon health.
By weight, fiber makes up 2.7% of boiled groats and is mainly composed of cellulose and lignin.
Fiber
is concentrated in the husk, which coats the groat. The husk is kept in dark buckwheat flour, giving it a unique flavor.
Additionally, the husk contains
resistant starch
, which is resistant to digestion and is thus categorized as fiber.
Resistant starch is fermented by gut bacteria in your colon. These beneficial bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate.
Butyrate and other SCFAs serve as nutrition for the cells lining your colon, improving gut health and decreasing your risk of colon cancer.
Protein
Buckwheat contains small amounts of protein.
By weight, protein composes 3.4% of boiled buckwheat groats.
Because of its well-balanced
amino acid profile
, the protein in buckwheat is very high quality. It is particularly rich in the amino acids lysine and arginine.
However, the digestibility of these proteins is relatively low because of antinutrients like protease inhibitors and tannins.
In animals, buckwheat protein has proven effective at lowering blood cholesterol, suppressing gallstone formation, and reducing the risk of colon cancer.
Like other pseudocereals, buckwheat is gluten-free and therefore suitable for people with
gluten intolerance
.
Vitamins and minerals
Buckwheat is richer in minerals than many common cereals, such as rice, wheat, and corn.
However, buckwheat is not particularly high in vitamins.
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.
Compared to other grains, the minerals in cooked buckwheat groats are particularly well absorbed.
This is because buckwheat is relatively low in
phytic acid
, a common inhibitor of mineral absorption found in grains and seeds.