The word amaranth means “unfading” in Greek. Amaranth has increased in popularity throughout the U.S.  as more people have become aware of its impressive nutritional profile. 

Health Benefits

The nutrients in amaranth can offer significant health benefits as a part of a healthy diet. It’s a source of vitamin C, which is vital to the body’s healing process because it helps process iron, form blood vessels, repair muscle tissue, and maintain collagen. 

Here are some other health benefits of amaranth:

Naturally Gluten-Free

Amaranth is a good option for people with Celiac disease, a condition in which an immune system reaction to wheat gluten can damage the small intestine. .

High in Protein

Amaranth is one of the richest plant forms of protein available. The protein is easily absorbed by the body and contains all amino acids — even lysine, which is often missing from cereal grains. Studies have shown that, in the plant kingdom, amaranth proteins are among the most similar to animal proteins.

Antioxidant-Rich

Amaranth is rich in antioxidants, including gallic acid and vanillic acid. Antioxidants help fight free radicals, which are damaging byproducts of normal cellular activity, helping to reduce everything from signs of aging to heart disease. 

Eases Inflammation

Some allergic reactions lead to uncomfortable inflammation through the production of immunoglobulin E. Early studies show that amaranth can slow down the body’s production of immunoglobulin E, reducing inflammation.

Lowers Cholesterol

Two studies in animals show that amaranth and its oil have the potential to lower “bad” LDL cholesterol significantly without lowering “good” HDL cholesterol. But scientists need to research how amaranth affects cholesterol in humans.