Buckwheat

While many people think that buckwheat is a cereal grain, it is actually a fruit seed that is related to rhubarb and sorrel making it a suitable substitute for grains for people who are sensitive to wheat or other grains that contain protein glutens.

Buckwheat is rich in heart-healthy nutrients including fiber, B vitamins, zinc, manganese, copper and magnesium. In addition it also promotes vascular health by improving the blood supply to all organs in the body. For this reason, it is also recommended in treating varicose veins.

The list of B vitamins in buckwheat include – thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), and folate (B9). These vitamins work both synergistically and individually to promote skin health. It also contains all the essential amino acids which promote hair growth.

Rich in antioxidants: Buckwheat is rich in multiple flavonoid compounds including rutin and quercetin. Of them, rutin is an efficient radical scavenger, and quercetin is a chain reaction breaking antioxidant.

A Korean study published in the journal, International Immunopharmacology suggests that buckwheat grain extract has strong anti-allergic action, probably due to its ability to inhibit histamine release and cytokine gene expression in the mast cells. The high rutin content is also known to inhibit inflammation. In a French study on arthritic mice, researchers showed that the compound rutin from buckwheat decreased inflammation and pain when fed to arthritic mice.

Add buckwheat to this Buddha Bowl recipe!