How to Eat Buckwheat

You can add buckwheat to a number of different meals and recipes.

Although buckwheat if often categorized as a healthy grain, it is in fact a seed with a number of health benefits. Buckwheat is gluten free and is therefore a safe substitute for those who are gluten intolerant, it helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and it doesn't lead to an increase in blood sugar when ingested. Buckwheat contains dietary fiber as well as all eight of the essential amino acids. It doesn't take much to incorporate buckwheat into your diet and thereby reap all of its nutritional benefits.

Things You'll Need

• Buckwheat

Instructions

1. Substitute buckwheat flour for other flours. Buckwheat flour is heavier than white and wheat flours and therefore gives baked items a different taste and texture. Replace a portion of the required flour in your pancake or cookie recipe with buckwheat flour for a healthier, grain-free alternative.

2. Eat it for breakfast. Cook buckwheat groats like you would oatmeal and serve it with fresh or dried fruit, maple syrup, and milk. Add toasted buckwheat to yogurt and add fruit and nuts to create a balanced, filling breakfast. Blend buckwheat into your smoothies with fruit and protein powder to give your drink some healthy carbohydrates.

3. Make it savory. Add cooked buckwheat to your turkey or veggie burgers to give it some added filling and flavor. Make buckwheat tabbouleh and season with herbs, olive oil, and lemon juice. Add buckwheat to salads for some added grain-like texture.

References

• Natural News: Three Reasons to Eat Buckwheat:Matt Monarch
• That's Fit: You Are What You Eat: Buckwheat Instead Of Grains: Debra McDuffee