What is the difference between green buckwheat and ordinary buckwheat?
Many people have never even heard of the existence of green buckwheat. Everyone is used to eating ordinary brown cereals. What is the difference between green buckwheat and ordinary buckwheat? This is the same crop, it grows in the same field. Differences appear after processing the grains.
Unlike brown cereals, green cereals are not dried or steamed before cleaning. The shell of the grains contains rutin, which is destroyed during heat treatment, so this substance is absent in brown cereals, but is preserved in green. Namely, rutin improves blood circulation, so raw buckwheat is healthier than fried. In all other respects, brown buckwheat is almost equivalent to green. Both that and another contain a large amount of vitamins, proteins, iron; it's just that in brown their number is less due to heat treatment.
Useful properties of brown buckwheat
Buckwheat grains acquire brown color after roasting and heat treatment. After that, the cereal acquires a nutty flavor and cooks much faster. Brown buckwheat has many useful properties:
- perfectly absorbed;
- strengthens the immune system;
- slows down the aging process;
- it contains many vitamins and minerals necessary for the body;
- cereals are low-calorie;
- included in the list of products useful for patients with diabetes;
- The presence of antioxidants in its composition has a beneficial effect on the condition of human skin, hair and nails.
Even after heat treatment, it retains many nutrients and nutrients. Just do not buy very dark cereals, this is a sign that it is very overcooked. Heat treatment of buckwheat prolongs its shelf life. Brown buckwheat is cheap, accessible and useful to everyone.
Which buckwheat is more useful: green or brown
If you cook ordinary porridge from green cereals, then its difference from brown will be minimal. The only difference is that brown has lost some of its nutrients during heat treatment, plus some more during cooking, and green only during cooking. But green sprouted buckwheat is really a storehouse of protein and nutrients. Germination of buckwheat grains does not take much time:
- buckwheat grains must be washed several times, then poured with water for 20 minutes;
- drain the water and put the cereal on a cloth napkin, put the napkin on the bottom of the colander;
- water four times a day with water, preventing drying;
- before use, sprouted grains should be washed well under running water until the mucus is removed.
Within a day, sprouts will appear. In this form, buckwheat is ready for use in the preparation of a variety of salads. Any greens are suitable as ingredients: parsley, mint, onion, dill, sorrel, basil. The components of salads can be tomatoes, broccoli, peppers, and vegetable oil with the addition of lemon juice can be used as dressings.
The composition of useful substances of "live" buckwheat and its advantage over fried
There is no brown buckwheat in nature.In its original form, buckwheat is a green grain. This is how it is removed from the fields. It turns brown after steaming and roasting. Until the 1950s, green groats were sold in Soviet stores, but they were poorly stored in this form and quickly deteriorated. To avoid losses, it was decided to heat-treat buckwheat. This process made it possible to extend its shelf life, as well as to remove chemicals used in agronomy from the surface of the grain. But as a result of such actions, a lot of useful substances are lost.
The composition of green buckwheat contains:
- amino acids;
- vegetable protein;
- vitamins B, C, E, PP;
- antioxidants;
- trace elements and minerals;
- flavonoids.
Green buckwheat differs from ordinary buckwheat in that it completely preserves the entire composition of useful substances and this is its advantage and advantage over brown buckwheat.
Diet therapy using green buckwheat
According to reviews, those who prefer a healthy diet and have introduced dishes from sprouted green buckwheat into their diet, it is not hard, it tastes good. You can eat it just like that or use it as an addition to salads, smoothies and other dishes. It should be introduced into the diet gradually and eat in small quantities, up to 50 grams per day. If you are a raw foodist, then alternate sprouted buckwheat with mung beans and chickpeas, it will be healthy and tasty.
Green buckwheat is used in diet therapy:
- in diets for weight loss, it is used because of coarse fibers and slow carbohydrates, additional energy is spent on their digestion, a feeling of satiety persists for a long time;
- green buckwheat is also suitable for a gluten-free diet, it does not contain gluten (gluten);
- vegetarians can consume green buckwheat, getting protein from it;
- in the diet of raw foodists, it also occupies not the last place.
For those who have tried the germinated grains of green buckwheat for the first time, it may seem that it is insipid and tasteless. And you try to add vegetables, herbs and spices that you love to the dish, season with vegetable oil and immediately appreciate everything.
The benefits of green buckwheat during pregnancy
Vitamins PP, iron, folic acid contained in green buckwheat have a beneficial effect on the course of pregnancy. These substances normalize the pressure of the expectant mother, reduce the risk of oxygen starvation of the child in the womb. Since the use of medicines is not desirable during the bearing of a child, the presence of green buckwheat in the diet of a future mother has a preventive effect against colds and exhaustion.
Contraindications to eating green buckwheat
Along with the beneficial and nutritional properties of green buckwheat, it can also be harmful. Not everyone can eat it. There are contraindications for people with certain health problems:
- for people with increased blood clotting, it will only bring harm due to the routine contained in the cereal;
- those with gastrointestinal diseases should refrain from eating "live" buckwheat;
- with flatulence, you can use green buckwheat, but in small quantities;
- children under the age of 4 years should not use it, so as not to injure the fragile children's intestines with coarse buckwheat fibers and not cause constipation or allergies;
- children from five years of age and older can add 2 tablespoons of green buckwheat to ordinary brown porridge, but infrequently.
Having learned about the invaluable usefulness of the queen of cereals, think about the possibility of causing harm to the body.After all, there are some diseases in which the introduction of green buckwheat into the diet will lead to unpleasant consequences. Be attentive to yourself and your health.
You need to choose buckwheat groats correctly. When buying buckwheat, pay attention to its color and smell. If you chose brown, then it should have a pleasant nutty smell and not be very dark in color. There should not be any other impurities, except for buckwheat grains. The color of "live" buckwheat is usually pale green. Fresh herbaceous, light aroma, without the smell of dampness, speaks of a quality product.
For information on how green buckwheat is useful, see the following video.