Health benefits of buckwheat

Buckwheat has an excellent nutritional profile, with high protein content. It may have benefits for heart health and digestion. It could also make a great addition to the diets of people with diabetes, gluten intolerance, coeliac disease or those trying to manage their weight.

One cup, or 168g, of roasted, cooked buckwheat groats (hulled seeds) contains the following nutrients:

- 5.68g of protein
- 1.04g of fat
- 33.5g of carbohydrate
- 4.5g of fibre
- 148mg of potassium
- 118mg of phosphorous
- 86mg of magnesium
- 12mg of calcium
- 1.34mg of iron

Buckwheat also contains vitamins, including:

- Thiamine (Vitamin B)
- Riboflavin
- Niacin
- Folate
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin B-6

There are many health benefits of buckwheat, including:

Improving heart health

Whole-grain foods contain nutrients that are important for heart health, including fibre and niacin. Including buckwheat into the diet, as an alternative to whole grains that contain gluten, can deliver these benefits.

Promoting healthy weight loss

Buckwheat is high in protein. Research has found that high-protein foods are essential for weight management because they lead to greater satiety with fewer calories than other types of food.

Helping to manage diabetes

As a whole grain, buckwheat is a source of complex carbohydrates. This form of carbohydrate can help people manage their blood glucose levels.

Improving digestion

Buckwheat is rich in fibre. Dietary fibre is a type of plant-based carbohydrate that the body cannot break down during digestion. Fibre supports the intestines in digesting food efficiently and helps food move through the digestive tract.

This information has been sourced from Medical News Today.