Buckwheat is a nutrient-packed ingredient that is gaining popularity as an up-and-coming superfood. Contrary to its misleading name, buckwheat is actually classified as a seed, making it completely gluten-free and grain-free. On top of this, there are many notable health benefits from incorporating buckwheat into your diet. Our favorite way? Toasting up and devouring some of our delicious sprouted buckwheat bread, made with just 2 ingredients. Anyways, here’s everything you need to know about the glorious benefits of buckwheat!
Buckwheat Health Benefits
Rich in Nutrients
Buckwheat is packed with essential vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and folate. It is also a good source of protein and dietary fiber, making it an excellent addition to any diet.
When sprouted, the vitamins and minerals found in buckwheat are enhanced as well. Basically, sprouting helps to maximize the nutritional index of buckwheat seeds— at PACHA, this is our tried and true process we use to craft our healthy and yummy line of buckwheat breads. You can read all about what sets sprouted buckwheat and sprouted bread apart from the rest here.
Helps with Digestion
Another amazing benefit of buckwheat is that it is ideal for digestion. This is because buckwheat contains high fiber content which helps regulate digestion, preventing constipation and other gut problems. Buckwheat also contains resistant starch, which feeds beneficial gut bacteria and helps maintain a healthy digestive system.
When buckwheat is sprouted, it is even easier to digest as well— the process of sprouting breaks down the anti-nutrients and oxalates found in buckwheat, making it even easier on your stomach. Your tummy and tastebuds will be happy after you eat buckwheat!
Lowers Blood Sugar
Since buckwheat has a low glycemic index, it is digested slowly and steadily, mitigating rapid blood sugar spikes. Because of this, buckwheat is a prime ingredient for diabetics, or anyone looking to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Helps with Weight Loss
The fiber levels in buckwheat help you to feel full for longer periods of time, which can help reduce overeating and aid in weight loss. Additionally, buckwheat is low in calories and contains healthy complex carbohydrates, making it a healthy food choice for weight management.
Improves Heart Health
Buckwheat is an excellent source of flavonoids, which have been shown to improve cardiovascular health. Studies have found that consuming buckwheat regularly can help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Is Buckwheat Gluten-Free?
Buckwheat is naturally gluten-free because it is a seed and not a grain, making it a safe and healthy choice for those with gluten sensitivities. For those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, buckwheat is an excellent alternative to wheat-based grains.
With this said, it’s very important to note that if you do have an allergy to gluten or grains, be sure to double check that any buckwheat products you purchase are made in a certified gluten-free facility. At PACHA, all of our products are certified gluten-free by the GFCO, the most widely-used gluten-free certification in the world.
Buckwheat is a great option for those who have gluten sensitivities because of its versatility. Buckwheat can be used in a variety of ways in the kitchen, from breakfast cereals to gluten-free bread, and everything in between. It can be boiled, roasted, sprouted, and so much more— making it a delicious ingredient in many dishes.
Buckwheat Cover Crop Benefits
More great news— not only does buckwheat have many important human health benefits, it also is great for the health of our planet! Buckwheat is used as a cover crop for regenerative agriculture, which you can learn about here. Essentially, buckwheat is planted by farmers in between crop rotations to keep soil healthy. In turn, the farming environment yields fruitful, nutritious harvests as a direct result of the improved soil quality. In addition, buckwheat prevents erosion, enhances biodiversity, and attracts key pollinators to ecosystems with its flowers.
As you can see, buckwheat is gaining notoriety for many reasons, especially because of its positive impact on the environment. As buckwheat is being implemented in a wider breadth of foods and products, some brands are even taking the power of buckwheat to the next level by obtaining a Regenerative Organic Certification. Here at PACHA, we recently began the journey toward obtaining this prestigious certification with our buckwheat harvests. We are happy to report that so far, we have contracted out 1,000 acres of buckwheat (480,000 lbs) that are being certified regenerative. Through the regenerative power of buckwheat, PACHA is proud to make great strides for our people and planet— and we’re just getting started.
In Closing...
In conclusion, buckwheat is a highly nutritious grain that offers a variety of benefits. It is an excellent source of essential vitamins and minerals, aids in digestion, helps with weight loss, improves heart health, and is a safe gluten-free alternative. With its versatility in the kitchen, there are endless possibilities for incorporating this healthy grain into your diet. Buckwheat also plays an important role in regenerative farming as a cover crop. Who knew little buckwheat seeds could have such a positive impact on the health of our people and planet? Buckwheat truly is a superfood of the future, and a must-try ingredient!
