Amaranth grain

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Amaranth grain (left) and wheat (right)
Amaranth, uncooked
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy1,554 kJ (371 kcal)
65 g
Sugars1.7 g
Dietary fiber7 g
7 g
14 g
Niacin (B3)
6%
0.9 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)
30%
1.5 mg
Vitamin B6
35%
0.6 mg
Folate (B9)
21%
82 μg
MineralsQuantity
%DV
Calcium
12%
159 mg
Iron
42%
7.6 mg
Magnesium
59%
248 mg
Manganese
148%
3.4 mg
Phosphorus
45%
557 mg
Potassium
17%
508 mg
Zinc
26%
2.9 mg
Other constituentsQuantity
Water11 g
Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[1] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.[2]
Amaranth, cooked
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy429 kJ (103 kcal)
19 g
Dietary fiber2 g
2 g
4 g
Niacin (B3)
2%
0.24 mg
Vitamin B6
6%
0.1 mg
Folate (B9)
6%
22 μg
MineralsQuantity
%DV
Calcium
4%
47 mg
Iron
12%
2.1 mg
Magnesium
15%
65 mg
Manganese
39%
0.9 mg
Phosphorus
12%
148 mg
Potassium
5%
135 mg
Zinc
8%
0.9 mg
Other constituentsQuantity
Water75 g
Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[1] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.[2]

Species belonging to the genus Amaranthus have been cultivated for their grains for 8,000 years.[3] Amaranth plants are classified as pseudocereals that are grown for their edible starchy seeds, but they are not in the same botanical family as true cereals, such as wheat and rice.[4] Amaranth species that are still used as a grain are Amaranthus caudatus L., Amaranthus cruentus L., and Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. The yield of grain amaranth is comparable to that of rice or maize.

The grain was a

Research on grain amaranth began in the United States in the 1970s. By the end of the 1970s, a few thousand acres were being cultivated there, and continue to be cultivated.[5]

Much of the amaranth grain currently grown is sold in

pressed seed oil
with commercial uses.

Nutritional analysis

Raw amaranth grain is inedible to humans and cannot be digested because it blocks the absorption of nutrients.

carbohydrates, 4% protein, and 2% fat (table).[7][8]

According to Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization (ECHO), amaranth leaves are nutritious, and "amounts of vitamin C, iron, beta carotene, calcium, folic acid and protein are especially high," however, amaranth leaves contain

anti-nutritional factors, including oxalates, nitrates, saponins, and phenolic compounds.[3] Cooking methods such as boiling the leaves in water and then discarding the water may reduce toxic effects. The report also cites a study[9]
indicating that "research has shown that consumption of 200 grams of cooked amaranth poses no health problems."

Amaranth grain is high in protein and

gluten intolerance
.

Synopsis[8] ~ composition: Amaranth[17] Wheat[18] Rice[19] Sweetcorn[20] Potato[21]
Component (per 100g portion) Amount Amount Amount Amount Amount
water (g) 11 13 12 76 82
energy (kJ) 1554 1368 1527 360 288
energy (kcal) 371 327 365 86 69
protein (g) 14 13 7 3 1.7
fat (g) 7 2 1 1 0.1
carbohydrates (g) 65 71 79 19 16
fiber (g) 7 12 1 3 2.4
sugars (g) 1.7 <0.1 >0.1 3 1.2
iron (mg) 7.6 3 0.8 0.5 0.5
manganese (mg) 3.4 4 1.1 0.2 0.1
calcium (mg) 159 29 28 2 9
magnesium (mg) 248 126 25 37 21
phosphorus (mg) 557 288 115 89 62
potassium (mg) 508 363 115 270 407
zinc (mg) 2.9 2.6 1.1 0.5 0.3
pantothenic acid (mg) 1.5 0.9 1.0 0.7 0.3
vitB6 (mg) 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2
folate (μg) 82 38 8 42 18
thiamin (mg) 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.1
riboflavin (mg) 0.2 0.1 >0.1 0.1 >0.1
niacin (mg) 0.9 5.4 1.6 1.8 1.1

The table below presents nutritional values of cooked, edible form of amaranth grain to cooked, edible form of wheat grain.

Synopsis[8] ~ composition: Amaranth grain, cooked[22]
Cereals, whole wheat, cooked[23]
Component (per 100g portion) Amount Amount
water (g) 75 83
energy (kJ) 429 259
energy (kcal) 103 62
protein (g) 4 2
fat (g) 2 0.4
carbohydrates (g) 19 14
fiber (g) 2 2
sugars (g) n/a n/a
iron (mg) 2.1 0.6
manganese (mg) 0.85 0.85
calcium (mg) 47 7
magnesium (mg) 65 22
phosphorus (mg) 148 69
potassium (mg) 135 71
zinc (mg) 0.9 0.5
pantothenic acid (mg) <0.1 n/a
vitB6 (mg) 0.11 0.07
folate (μg) 22 14
thiamin (mg) <0.1 0.07
riboflavin (mg) 0.02 0.05
niacin (mg) 0.24 0.8

Cultivation

There are about 75 species in the genus Amaranthus.[24] Many species of amaranth grain are hardy plants, showing resistance to changes in pH, salt content, environment, temperature, and drought.[24] Amaranth grains have genetic diversity and adaptive ability.[25]

Some examples of Amaranth species are Amaranthus albus, Amaranthus blitoides, Amaranthus hybridus, Amaranthus palmeri, Amaranthus powellii, Amaranthus retroflexus, Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus tuberculatus, and Amaranthus viridis.[24] Amaranthus retroflexus, "pigweed", is a wild amaranth species native to the United States and is considered a weed in the Northeast, Nebraska and Great Plains, South, and West.[26] The name derives from the plant's tendency to sprout where hogs are pasture-fed. Although both its leaves and its seeds are edible, pigweed amaranth has not been cultivated as a food crop.

Cultural uses

snackfood
made with amaranth grain

The

snack foods for the spirits.[29] Edible skulls were historically made with amaranth seeds, although today they are made out of sugar.[29]

Gallery

  • Amaranthus retroflexus, known as "pigweed"
    Amaranthus retroflexus, known as "pigweed"
  • Skull shapes made of amaranth and honey for Day of the Dead in Mexico
    Skull shapes made of amaranth and honey for Day of the Dead in Mexico
  • Amaranth grain from Nepal
    Amaranth grain from Nepal

References

  1. ^ a b United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  2. ^
    PMID 30844154.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  3. ^ a b O'Brien, G. Kelly; Price, Martin L. (1983). "Amaranth: Grain & Vegetable Types" (PDF). ECHO Technical Note. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  4. ^ "Cereal Grains and Pseudo-Cereals - Dictionary definition of Cereal Grains and Pseudo-Cereals | Encyclopedia.com: FREE online dictionary". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2017-04-13.
  5. ^ Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute. "Grain Amaranth: A Lost Crop of the Americas". Archived from the original on 2006-04-27. Retrieved 2006-05-07. (PDF version Archived 2006-10-09 at the Wayback Machine also available)
  6. ^ "All About Amaranth". USA Emergency Supply.
  7. ^ J.N. Cole (1979). Amaranth: from the Past, for the Future. Rodale Press, Emmaus, PA.
  8. ^ a b c "Amaranth grain, uncooked per 100 g". USDA National Nutrient Database, SR-28. 2016. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016.
  9. ^ "Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. 63-89".
  10. ^ Robert L. Myers and Daniel H. Putnam (1988). "Growing Grain Amaranth as a Specialty Crop". Crop Systems. University of Minnesota. FS-03458-GO. Archived from the original on 2007-10-03. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  11. ^ "Amaranth - Alternative Field Crops Manual". University of Wisconsin & University of Minnesota. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  12. ^ "Evaluation of the Nutritional Quality of the Grain Protein of New Amaranths Varieties [2015]".
  13. S2CID 35082498
    .
  14. (PDF) on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
  15. ^ Garcia; et al. (1972). "Composition of Air-classified Defatted Com and Wheat-Germ Flours" (PDF). Cereal Chemistry. 49 (5): 499–507. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
  16. ^ "Nutrition Content - Wheat Germ Crude per 100 g". Conde Nast for the USDA National Nutrient Database, Release SR-21. 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  17. ^ raw, uncooked
  18. ^ "Wheat, hard red winter. USDA Nutrient Database". Archived from the original on January 7, 2014.
  19. ^ white, long-grain,regular, raw, unenriched
  20. ^ sweet, yellow, raw
  21. ^ white, flesh and skin, raw
  22. ^ Amaranth grain, cooked
  23. ^ "Cereals, whole wheat hot natural cereal, cooked with water, without salt. USDA Nutrient Database". Archived from the original on 2016-03-12. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  24. ^
    S2CID 39781503
    .
  25. .
  26. ^ "U.S. Invasive Weeds". plants.usda.gov. Natural Resources Conservation Service, US Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  27. ^ a b c d Saul Elbein (2013-04-17). "Amaranth: The Seeds That Time Forgot". The Texas Observer. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  28. ^ .
  29. ^ a b Karen Castillo Farfan (29 October 2014). "Decoding The Food And Drink On A Day Of The Dead Altar". National Public Radio (USA). Retrieved 2017-03-29.