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Eat buckwheat flour. Lose weight

April 19, 2016 18:04 IST

Here's how adding buckwheat flour to your meal can keep ailments at bay.

IMAGE: Buckwheat flour has multiple health benefits. Photograph: Rediff Archives

Whenever we fast during festivals, it brings a definite change in palate that we all enjoy.

Who can beat the delightful flavours of kuttu ka atta (Buckwheat flour) and aloo sabzi or sabudana khichdi?

But while most of us stick to the vrat ka khaana only for those nine days, including them in our family's daily meals can be quite beneficial for our overall health.

Besides an overload of potato, (which you can avoid from time-to-time) change in the grain content comes a refresher.

Here are some benefits of kuttu ka atta that will make you think twice before you head to your regular wheat counter.

1. Buckwheat flour or kuttu ka atta is loaded with high-quality proteins and has more amino acid lysine than regular wheat or even rice.

In fact, this type of amino acid is considered to be the building block of our body and is even taken orally as a medicine to treat cold sores.

2. It also contains a large amount of fibre, which is known to clean the digestive system, provide energy to the body and lowers the secretion of bile (acid).

It is also known to detoxify the body by binding itself to toxins and aiding in its excretion out of the gut. This may also protect the colon from cancer and prevents gallstones.

3. Kuttu ka atta also contains a large amount of essential nutrients and minerals. It is known to have Vitamin B-complex as well as Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and Vitamin B (niacin).

In addition, it also contains trace minerals like phosphorous, copper, iron and zinc.

IMAGE: Free of saturated fats and less on calories, buckwheat flour initiates weight loss. Photograph: Tanvir Alam/Creative Commons

4. Buckwheat flour also aids in weight loss. It contains much less calories as compared to wheat or rice and is therefore, instrumental in weight loss if consumed instead of the two.

It is also free of saturated fat and helps control binge-eating, keeping and facilitating digestion.

5. Since it contains essential minerals and is low on fat content, it keeps the blood sugar level under control. It is especially beneficial in controlling type 2 diabetes since it contains D-chiro-inositol.

You can prepare chapati for people who have diabetes since it is light and can be consumed with dals and various types of subzi.

6. Buckwheat flour that also contains magnesium helps to lower blood pressure. It is especially beneficial if you are suffering from high blood pressure.

In fact, many studies back this claim and explain that magnesium dilates blood vessels, dissolves blood clots and counteracts spasms.

7. The presence of various essential vitamins and trace minerals also helps to reduce cholesterol levels in the body. Minerals including magnesium, iron and phosphorous keep blood oxygen at a healthy level. This keeps fatigue, lethargy and irritability in check.

8. Buckwheat flour also contains manganese, which keeps bones strong. It also facilitates absorption of calcium in the body and prevents osteoporosis (condition of fragile bone).

Incidentally, about 10 million Indians suffer from osteoporosis each year and it is an illness that can only be treated and not cured.

9. It is also known to contain complex carbohydrates that aids in proper hair growth. Complex carbohydrates prevent too much sugar from being released into the bloodstream and convert proteins into cells that form hair.

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Deepshikha Punj