Buckwheat was a common food source until a century ago. Buckwheat looks like grain, but it is not. The buckwheat plant is related to rhubarb, pig grass and sorrel. Farmers in the Netherlands stopped growing buckwheat on a large scale in the 1920s. The crop was too sensitive to the weather. If there was a good harvest, you could earn a lot, but during a night frost the plant died and the entire farming family was in poverty. Nowadays, buckwheat products are mainly available at organic stores. NB! This article is written from the personal view of the author and may contain information that is not scientifically substantiated and/or in line with the general view.

Contents:

• Buckwheat, good for the blood
• Buckwheat and diabetes
• Buckwheat against gallstones
• Phenols and other phytonutrients
• Buckwheat against hormone-related cancer
• Buckwheat eating tips

Buckwheat, good for the blood

Buckwheat is good for the blood vessels, especially the capillaries, the smallest blood vessels. The phytonutrient rutin contained in buckwheat is responsible for making the capillaries or capillaries stronger. The Yi people live in China. They eat at least 100 grams of buckwheat every day. Members of the Yi people hardly suffer from high blood pressure. Scientists think that eating a lot of buckwheat will generate fewer cholesterol deposits on the blood vessel walls and this will reduce the risk of high blood pressure. In addition, buckwheat contains a lot of magnesium, a substance that calms the blood vessels, which also reduces the risk of high blood pressure.Drawing buckwheat / Source: Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Buckwheat and diabetes

In Iowa, a state in the United States, a scientific study among 36,000 women has shown that eating buckwheat leads to a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A Canadian study adds that chiro-inositol in buckwheat provides a recovery from diabetes. Chiro-inositol regulates blood sugar levels. Chiro-inositol is a substance that acts as a substitute for insulin. Animals with diabetes showed a stable picture after eating buckwheat; the disease did not progress further. The research team is now focusing on follow-up research into new types of buckwheat that may be even more effective.Buckwheat plant / Source: Rasbak, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA-3.0)

Buckwheat against gallstones

A study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that buckwheat is excellent at preventing gallstones. 69,000 people took part in this study and they were divided into groups based on the fiber content they consumed during their daily meals. It turned out that the more fiber you eat, the less likely you are to get gallstones. Buckwheat is rich in fiber.

Phenols and other phytonutrients

When scientists think of phytonutrients, most food experts think of fruits and vegetables. There are also many phytonutrients in grains, including buckwheat for convenience. Dr Liu from Cornell University notes that a fiber-rich diet is effective against colon cancer, not only because of the fiber it contains, but also because of all the phytonutrients, many of which are still undiscovered. The thousands of phytonutrients that have been discovered show that these substances have powerful antioxidant effects. It is not uncommon for a particular phytonutrient in a fruit, vegetable or grain to contain stronger antioxidants than vitamins or minerals.Buckwheat / Source: Mariluna, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA-3.0)

Buckwheat against hormone-related cancer

One of the types of phytonutrients in buckwheat are lignans. Lignans include enterolactone, which prevents breast cancer and other hormone-related cancers. The same substance, enterolactone, has a preventive effect against cardiovascular disease. A Danish study of 857 postmenopausal women found that women who ate a lot of whole grains had higher enterolactone levels in their blood than women who ate fewer whole grains such as buckwheat.

Buckwheat eating tips

Buckwheat seeds sprout quickly. You can make your own sprouts with buckwheat. Buckwheat is tasty as a substitute for rice. You can cook buckwheat and add it to a green salad. Buckwheat seeds can be used uncooked in a smoothie. This makes the smoothie fuller. Mix an apple, pear, a tablespoon of buckwheat grains and half a cup of water in a blender and enjoy this delicious homemade drink.

read more

• The healing power of kidney beans
• The healing power of lentils
• The medicinal power of chickpeas
• Make your own muesli