THOUGHTS- So working in a health food shop I am discovering new things all the time and today it was time to try amaranth. People have come in asking for it and raving about it. So here's a little information I found on it.
The Nutrition Almanac says: Amaranth is an ancient grain that has a high protein content and contains a variety of components including calcium, magnesium and silicon. It is categorized by botanists as a C4 plant, meaning it is superior in the process of photosynthesis, which makes it a very nutritious food. Amaranth can be cooked as a side dish, added to soups and stews, or popped like pop-corn. The amount of amaranth in packaged products and cereals is not ver significant.
From an article written by Keryn De Maria in the Autumn 2002 New Vegetarian and Natural Health: There are a number of other ancient grains which are gaining renewed popularity, amongst them Kamut (a registered trademark for an ancient wheat relative, with a "sweet" taste and similar advantages to Spelt), Teff (a highly nutritious, miniature grain from Ethiopia) and Amaranth (another pseudo-cereal with benefits similar to quinoa).
And from Colliers Encyclopedia: Amaranth, a coarse annual plant belonging to the genus Amaranthus. There are about 50 species, native to tropical and mild climates in all parts of the world. Some species known as pigweed, are widely distributed as weeds. A few are cultivated in gardens for their bright foliage or flower clusters. The amaranth is an erect or a spreading plant, growing 1 to 10 feet high. It has alternate entire leaves. The foliage is often variegated with bronze, red, yellow, or purple blotches. The small flowers, white, greenish, pink or purple, may be borne in drooping panicles. Popular cultivated species include love-lies-bleeding, (Amaranthus caudatus), and prince′s-feather, (A.hybridus, var. hypochondriacus). A. tricolour, called Joseph′s-coat if its leaves are blotched and coloured, is planted in the United States for ornament, and used in India as a potherb. John C. Wister
Since visiting Mae I have been looking for a way to include protein in my breakfast without having a big fatty cook up every morning. And amaranth appears to be the answer. Another article I found stats that Amaranth, Quinoa and Buckwheat are the three grains that hold a complete protein source. Many other plants contain partial protien sources but the three new grains I have discovered seem to be a god send. And tasty and versatile.
Now I did go to a party after having such a healthy day and drank it all away. But I guess it's pretty much my last night of drinking for a while. Mae wants me to give my liver time to heal because apparantly it's not doing too well. I could never imagine why. I guess all that drinking I've done hasn't helped.
CHALLENGES- Going to a party. Unable to refrain from drinking.
TRIUMPHS- Didn't have any soft drink and didn't pig out when I got drunk.
WHAT I ATE-
BREAKFAST- Water with lemon juice. 2 Vegan Multivitamins, 1 Vegan iron Tablet. Mae's Majic Medicine- Beetroot, Carrot, ginger, celery, spinach and lemon. Through Juicer.
Health start Muesli with Amaranth and organic soy Milk.
LUNCH- Salad- quinoa, chickpeas, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, snowpeas, spinach, basil, trio of sprouts, grated beetroot, spring onion.
Dressing- Flaxseed oil, dijon mustard, garlic and lemon juice.
DINNER- Cous cous, shickpeas, shallot, capsicum, red onion, garlic mixed herbs.
Party stuff- 2 rice crackers with hummus, sun dried tomato. Lost count of cocktails.
The Nutrition Almanac says: Amaranth is an ancient grain that has a high protein content and contains a variety of components including calcium, magnesium and silicon. It is categorized by botanists as a C4 plant, meaning it is superior in the process of photosynthesis, which makes it a very nutritious food. Amaranth can be cooked as a side dish, added to soups and stews, or popped like pop-corn. The amount of amaranth in packaged products and cereals is not ver significant.
From an article written by Keryn De Maria in the Autumn 2002 New Vegetarian and Natural Health: There are a number of other ancient grains which are gaining renewed popularity, amongst them Kamut (a registered trademark for an ancient wheat relative, with a "sweet" taste and similar advantages to Spelt), Teff (a highly nutritious, miniature grain from Ethiopia) and Amaranth (another pseudo-cereal with benefits similar to quinoa).
And from Colliers Encyclopedia: Amaranth, a coarse annual plant belonging to the genus Amaranthus. There are about 50 species, native to tropical and mild climates in all parts of the world. Some species known as pigweed, are widely distributed as weeds. A few are cultivated in gardens for their bright foliage or flower clusters. The amaranth is an erect or a spreading plant, growing 1 to 10 feet high. It has alternate entire leaves. The foliage is often variegated with bronze, red, yellow, or purple blotches. The small flowers, white, greenish, pink or purple, may be borne in drooping panicles. Popular cultivated species include love-lies-bleeding, (Amaranthus caudatus), and prince′s-feather, (A.hybridus, var. hypochondriacus). A. tricolour, called Joseph′s-coat if its leaves are blotched and coloured, is planted in the United States for ornament, and used in India as a potherb. John C. Wister
Since visiting Mae I have been looking for a way to include protein in my breakfast without having a big fatty cook up every morning. And amaranth appears to be the answer. Another article I found stats that Amaranth, Quinoa and Buckwheat are the three grains that hold a complete protein source. Many other plants contain partial protien sources but the three new grains I have discovered seem to be a god send. And tasty and versatile.
Now I did go to a party after having such a healthy day and drank it all away. But I guess it's pretty much my last night of drinking for a while. Mae wants me to give my liver time to heal because apparantly it's not doing too well. I could never imagine why. I guess all that drinking I've done hasn't helped.
CHALLENGES- Going to a party. Unable to refrain from drinking.
TRIUMPHS- Didn't have any soft drink and didn't pig out when I got drunk.
WHAT I ATE-
BREAKFAST- Water with lemon juice. 2 Vegan Multivitamins, 1 Vegan iron Tablet. Mae's Majic Medicine- Beetroot, Carrot, ginger, celery, spinach and lemon. Through Juicer.
Health start Muesli with Amaranth and organic soy Milk.
LUNCH- Salad- quinoa, chickpeas, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, snowpeas, spinach, basil, trio of sprouts, grated beetroot, spring onion.
Dressing- Flaxseed oil, dijon mustard, garlic and lemon juice.
DINNER- Cous cous, shickpeas, shallot, capsicum, red onion, garlic mixed herbs.
Party stuff- 2 rice crackers with hummus, sun dried tomato. Lost count of cocktails.
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