It wouldn’t be surprising if you are reading about this grain called ‘Teff’ for the first time. Teff, also known as lovegrass is a protein-rich staple food of Ethiopia, that has attracted a great deal of attention due to its superb nutritional value, rapid cooking time, and versatile applications. These qualities of Teff make it an unmatched “superfood”.
Teff is used in making flour and injera bread in Ethiopian cuisine. With Ethiopian food spreading across the world, the awareness of the health benefits of Teff is increasing. Over the years, the grain has gained popularity in countries like United States, Australia, India, and Netherlands due to the host of health benefits it offers.
Let us take a look at the five most important benefits of Teff grain:
1. Aids in Growth: Teff is ideal for growing children as it has proteins, antioxidants, fiber, iron, calcium, phosphorus, aluminum, thiamine, and barium in high levels. Its amino acid composition is high too. Apart from the eight essential amino acids, an extremely rare ingredient called lysine is present in Teff. It contributes majorly to the growth and development of growing kids.
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2. Improves Bone Health: If you are already experiencing pain in bones and joints, including Teff in your diet could be a great idea. Apart from being enriched with a wide range of minerals and nutrients, Teff is very high in calcium, which is an extremely important mineral for bone growth and development.
3. Maintains Blood Sugar Levels: Teff is beneficial for diabetic patients. One cup of teff fulfills the need of more than 100% of the daily recommended amount of manganese. Manganese acts by controlling the concentrations of blood sugar, working as a natural remedy against diabetes.
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4. Keeps the Heart Healthy: Since Teff has very low levels of sodium, the arteries are not at the risk of getting clogged up. Moreover, researchers have found that the Teff grain significantly reduces blood pressure, thereby lowering the chance of heart attacks and strokes.
5. Safe for the Gluten Intolerance: Gluten is the ingredient responsible for creating digestive and allergic problems. Teff does not have gluten. Few researchers, in a landmark study, proved that Teff could be easily consumed by people with Celiac’s disease, a disease characterized by damage to the small intestine due to gluten.
Since Teff is an unknown cereal in our diet, many of us wonder how to consume it. To all those who ask ‘can you eat Teff raw?,’ the answer is YES. You can mix it with other grains like rice or Quinoa, and use it in pancakes, or as a salad topping. Eating Teff uncooked is absolutely safe and healthy.
Teff is definitely the new grain on the block and the answer to many health problems around us.
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