Though the name might suggest otherwise, buckwheat isn’t wheat after all. It’s a fast-growing plant that has leaves in the shape of a heart with reddish hollow stems.
Buckwheat is mainly harvested in the northern hemisphere, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, China, Kazakhstan as well as Russia.
There’s a lot more to this heart-shaped plant. Let’s dive into more fun facts including the benefits of this nutritious whole grain!
- Buckwheat can be found in many food products, such as in flour and noodles. It is also commonly used in making breakfast. Apart from that, farmers also use it for livestock feed.
- Just like quinoa, buckwheat is a pseudocereal as it shares many similar properties to cereal but does not come from cereal grain as most other cereals do. Buckwheat is richer in minerals than many other cereals. It is high in manganese as well as magnesium.
- Among its health benefits, buckwheat could improve heart health, lower blood sugar levels, promote weight loss and help to manage diabetes, especially among individuals with type 2 diabetes.
- Individuals who are gluten intolerant or have celiac disease which is an autoimmune disorder that mainly affects the small intestine, can consume buckwheat as it does not contain gluten.
- Apart from that, buckwheat is an excellent source of insoluble fiber and has double the amount of protein than in oatmeal. This nutritious grain is good for improving colon health.
- ‘Kasha’ also known as buckwheat breakfast porridge is very common in Central and Eastern Europe.
Sources: Healthline
