POETIC SWEETMEATS FOR THE FEAST

GLUTEN-FREE BUCKWHEAT

Although buckwheat is often thought of as a cereal, it does not in fact belong to the family of grasses. It is in fact a member of the knotweed family (polygonum).It originated in Central Asia and arrived in Europe during the Middle Ages

It grows well in poor and sandy soils, in temperate, even cool, climates, but it does not flourish where there are wide differences in temperature. The plants leaves are heart-shaped, and the clustering flowers are white or whitish-yellow, without a corolla. The sedds are black and triangular. The fruit are called achenes; Sorrell and rhubarb belong to the same familly

There are two varieties of buckwheat. Common buckwheat, sometimes called black wheat, is the most common. The other variety is known as Tartary buckwheat, employed more as feed for cattle or poultry

Nutrition and full of energy, it is often eaten as flour. If cereals, however, tend to irritate the intestines, Sarrasin can be consumed without difficulty, even in cases of diarrhoea

ADVANTAGES ( Ref : www.hort.perdue.edu)

Richer in calcium than wheat, it is excellent accompaniment for anyone who has a need for more of this kind of ingredient. Buckwheat also contains vitamin B1, magnesium and phosphorus, especially useful for people suffering from nervousness, stress or irritability. Iron, fluorine, zinc, and vitamin P, an excellent protector for the walls of blood vessels, are also to be found

100 grams per day of buckwheat can provide 40% of an adults B1 vitamin requirements

Naturol sterol alcohols, also to be found in buckwheat, play a part in limiting cholesterol as do B2 vitamins and vitamin E : combining palm oil with buckwheat flour

The presence of vitamin P, containing flavonoid rutin, is well known as reducing cholesterol and protecting blood vessels, all the more so when combined with vitamin C

Buckwheat is also twice as rich in lysine as wheat or rice, and is one of the foods which increase assimilation of calcium, stimulate the immune system and prevent arteriosclerosis

Since it takes longer to digest buckwheat than other carbohydrates, eating it reduces the sensation of hunger during the day and thus reduces calories and sugar levels in the blood.It is an excellent food for diabetics

VITAMINS AND TRACE ELEMENTS

Warning : This document aims at giving a summary of the scientific information available on the subject. It does not make recommendations, nor is it a medical guide

Article created: 2009-03-24 -- It was read 858 times

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