Buckwheat

Buckwheat, oddly enough, is not a type of wheat or even a cereal grain of any kind, but rather a fruit seed related to rhubarb, knotweed, and sorrel. As a "pseudocereal," rich in complex carbohydrates, it makes an excellent wheat substitute for those with celiac disease or who are sensitive to gluten.

Buckwheat's health benefits are many and varied. What follows are a few of the more noteworthy reasons you should add this super food to your diet.

Oxidant Reducers

Present in buckwheat's hulls and seeds and also in ground buckwheat flour are phenolic compounds and oxidant reducers.¹ These can have a large number of benefits, including support for brain as well as protective effects against cancer and cardiovascular disease.²

Reduced Blood Pressure

Along with its high fiber content, buckwheat contains the phytonutrient rutin,³ an oxidant reducer that supports a healthy circulatory system and helps fight high blood pressure.⁴

Lower Cholesterol

Research shows that buckwheat can have a hand in improving cholesterol levels and inflammation. Consumption has been linked to lower LDL ("bad cholesterol") but higher levels of HDL ("good cholesterol").^3,4

References

1. J Ethnopharmacol. 2000;72(1-2):35-42.
2. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2015;63(36):7896-913.
3. Tohoku J Exp Med. 2011;225(2):123-30.
4. Am J Clin Nutr. 1995;61(2):366-72.