Amaranth ,(Rajgeera) supplementary value

 4. Supplementary Value of Amaranth 

Amaranth seeds have a high nutritional value. 

The most important product obtained from amaranth is grain, which is a source of flour used in the baking industry [8]. 

Different plants such as millet, corn, sorghum, 

pseudocereals (amaranth), quinoa, and teff are the main components of a gluten diet [15].

 The lack of gluten fraction makes the amaranth flour suitable for the production of dietetic food (gluten-free products) 

recommended for people who are allergic to gluten [8,10].

 In a recent paper [16], 

technological and nutritional properties of an innovative gluten-free double-layered flat bread enriched with amaranth flour were examined. 

New formulations were developed in which rice flour (6%) and starch (6%) were partially replaced with amaranth [16].

Nowadays, such products of good quality are desirable because the number of people with celiac disease is increasing.

 Amaranth seeds are mainly used to produce flakes, flour, groats and muesli, and oil [7].

 The high protein quality of amaranth means that it can be used alone or as a food fortifier in cereal grain mixtures.

 Recently, amaranth has been also used as a new alternative ingredient to compose functional cookies.

 The procedure basically relies on partial replacement of whole-wheat flour with formulations based on amaranth flour. The nutritional value of the fortified cookies (with amaranth flour) was found to be higher than that of traditional wheat flour cookies [17]

. Oil pressed from amaranth seed is also very popular [12]. Amaranth oil is well known as a functional food [7]. 

A very important property (advantage) of amaranth oil is that it is highly resistant to oxidation.

During long-term storage, small changes in the fatty acid composition are observed [7]

. It is worth noting that the iron content in Amaranth seed is much higher than in wheat, other seeds, spinach, and meat.

 For this reason, products with amaranth seeds can be an excellent dietary supplement for people with symptoms of anemia [6]

. Amaranth and preparations from this plant are eaten in the form of soups, salads, puree, or tortillas [8]

. Supplementation with amaranth oil contributes to lowering blood pressure

, regulates lipid profile, manifests antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects.

 Preliminary results of the research indicate that amaranth oil may be used in the normalization of blood glucose levels [7].

 Although amaranth is a valuable crop in terms of nutrient content, it is out of reach for many consumers due to its high price. The real problem is also the price of amaranth oil; it is very expensive and therefore long-term supplementation becomes impossible to implement for the average consumer.

Nowadays, with the promotion of healthy lifestyles and taking care of beauty, health-conscious consumers are increasingly choosing a healthy diet with proven health-promoting products and functional foods. 

An excellent example of such a product is amaranth oil, which, as a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols, and polyphenols, 

can be an excellent example of a functional food. Moreover, the extracts obtained from amaranth in the vegetation period and early flowering, due to their high content of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and rutin, can be a valuable source of antioxidants that can be exploited 

for the production of nutraceuticals or used as a functional food ingredient [3].

 As it turns out, amaranth seeds can also be a source of iron, the amount of which may be important for preventing anemia. 

The study by Orsango and colleagues clearly presents the conclusion that the consumption of processed bread enriched with amaranth by children in underdeveloped countries decreased anemia prevalence and also increased mean hemoglobin concentration.

 An in-depth analysis showed that iron deficiency 

anemia risk was significantly decreased from 

35% to 15% in a group of children treated with 

amaranth [18].

 The most important values of amaranth

 for use as a food supplement are presented in Table 1.

Key point Good supplement source seeds ,flour

Gluten free high iron content any seed

Ref

Foods. 2022 Feb 21;11(4):618. doi: 10.3390/foods11040618

The Dual Nature of Amaranth—Functional Food and Potential Medicine

Justyna Baraniak 1,*, Małgorzata Kania-Dobrowolska 1

Editor: Antonello Santini1