Amaranth is a tall plant with very broad leaves. Each plant produces thousands of seeds. Amaranth is an ancient grain used by the pre Columbian Aztecs and also in India . It was used in several interesting ways. The Aztecs used it to make a beer, the leaves were boiled or fried, the seeds were popped like popcorn, and the flour was used in various ways, include brutal religious ceremonies.
For this reason, the early Christian missionaries declared that amaranth was evil and all amaranth that was found was destroyed. Fortunately, some remote villages in Peru and Mexico continued to cultivate it, or it would be extinct.
Amaranth flour can be used to make some different delicious and cookies. It requires the addition of other flours in order to use for making breads. It is high in iron, protein, and has three times the calcium of milk.
Several amaranth products are available in health food stores.
R.D.
Amaranth, 1/2 cup
| Nutrient | Units | .5 X 1 cup ——- 97.5g |
|---|---|---|
| Proximates | ||
| Water |
g
|
9.59
|
| Energy |
kcal
|
365
|
| Energy |
kj
|
1526
|
| Protein |
g
|
14.09
|
| Total lipid (fat) |
g
|
6.35
|
| Ash |
g
|
2.96
|
| Carbohydrate, by difference |
g
|
64.52
|
| Fiber, total dietary |
g
|
9.1
|
| Minerals | ||
| Calcium, Ca |
mg
|
149
|
| Iron, Fe |
mg
|
7.40
|
| Magnesium, Mg |
mg
|
259
|
| Phosphorus, P |
mg
|
444
|
| Potassium, K |
mg
|
357
|
| Sodium, Na |
mg
|
20
|
| Zinc, Zn |
mg
|
3.10
|
| Copper, Cu |
mg
|
0.758
|
| Manganese, Mn |
mg
|
2.203
|
| Vitamins | ||
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid |
mg
|
4.1
|
| Thiamin |
mg
|
0.078
|
| Riboflavin |
mg
|
0.203
|
| Niacin |
mg
|
1.254
|
| Pantothenic acid |
mg
|
1.021
|
| Vitamin B-6 |
mg
|
0.217
|
| Folate, total |
mcg
|
48
|
| Folic acid |
mcg
|
0
|
| Folate, food |
mcg
|
48
|
| Folate, DFE |
mcg_DFE
|
48
|
| Vitamin B-12 |
mcg
|
0.00
|
| Vitamin B-12, added |
mcg
|
0.00
|
| Vitamin A, IU |
IU
|
0
|
| Vitamin A, RAE |
mcg_RAE
|
0
|
| Retinol |
mcg
|
0
|
| Lipids | ||
| Fatty acids, total saturated |
g
|
1.620
|
| 14:0 |
g
|
0.011
|
| 16:0 |
g
|
1.252
|
| 18:0 |
g
|
0.214
|
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated |
g
|
1.397
|
| 18:1 undifferentiated |
g
|
1.397
|
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated |
g
|
2.819
|
| 18:2 undifferentiated |
g
|
2.763
|
| 18:3 undifferentiated |
g
|
0.056
|
| Cholesterol |
mg
|
0
|
| Phytosterols |
mg
|
23
|
| Amino acids | ||
| Tryptophan |
g
|
0.176
|
| Threonine |
g
|
0.544
|
| Isoleucine |
g
|
0.567
|
| Leucine |
g
|
0.857
|
| Lysine |
g
|
0.728
|
| Methionine |
g
|
0.220
|
| Cystine |
g
|
0.186
|
| Phenylalanine |
g
|
0.528
|
| Tyrosine |
g
|
0.321
|
| Valine |
g
|
0.662
|
| Arginine |
g
|
1.034
|
| Histidine |
g
|
0.379
|
| Alanine |
g
|
0.779
|
| Aspartic acid |
g
|
1.229
|
| Glutamic acid |
g
|
2.203
|
| Glycine |
g
|
1.595
|
| Proline |
g
|
0.681
|
| Serine |
g
|
1.119
|
| Other | ||
| Alcohol, ethyl |
g
|
0.0
|
USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 18 (2005)>
