It’s no secret that grains are an important part of a healthy, balanced diet.
But while there are some choices that have become popular mainstream, there are others that deserve a moment to shine on your dinner plate. It has been used in African and Asian cuisines for years.And it is certainly a grain that should be on your radar.
Sorghum is a grain that is round and has a firm texture when cooked. It can be boiled, stewed, or eaten with pom-poms (like popcorn).
Here are some reasons why sorghum is a grain worth knowing and loving.
Sorghum is highly nutritious
Eating a diet rich in whole grains is a surefire way to get fiber, antioxidants, and other nutrients into your diet. It’s what the doctor ordered.
Digging into sorghum’s nutritional value, it’s easy to see just how nutritious this grain is. Whole grain sorghum is an excellent source of 12 essential nutrients, including iron and magnesium.
A serving of cooked whole-grain sorghum provides more than twice as much protein as a serving of quinoa, and a half-cup serving of cooked whole-grain sorghum has almost twice the iron content of a 3-ounce sirloin steak. This grain is also an excellent source of zinc, a nutrient that supports immune health.
Eating sorghum may support heart health
Heart disease is the number one killer of Americans, so it’s no wonder people are looking to take steps to support this aspect of their health. to manage. Chronic inflammation is very common among people with this heart health condition. I have.
Sorghum also contains nutrients emphasized in the DASH diet, including magnesium, potassium, and calcium, which may support heart health.
May also support digestive health
It’s clear that dietary fiber plays an important role in digestive health. Whole grain sorghum is a naturally gluten-free grain, and half a cup of this grain provides over 6 grams of fiber, equivalent to nearly 25% of the recommended daily fiber intake.
However, sorghum is not only a source of dietary fiber, but also provides a range of soluble and insoluble fibers, as well as prebiotic fibers that help “fuel” live probiotics in the gut. Offers. In fact, recent research has shown potential prebiotic activity of whole grain sorghum in the form of polyphenols found in the bran of sorghum grains.
Sorghum is Naturally Gluten Free
Celiac disease is the most common autoimmune disease in the United States. Among the many things people do to manage this disease, avoiding gluten is one of them. Safe for those avoiding gluten.
Results from one study evaluating people with celiac disease found that these participants experienced no symptoms of intolerance and had levels of anti-transglutaminase antibodies up to 5, even though they felt they were eating sorghum-derived foods for 5 days. It did not change at the end of the day.During the period, we confirmed that this grain is safe for a gluten-free diet.
Sorghum is a Whole Grain Worth Trying
Sorghum is an unsung hero in the grain world. Including sorghum in your cooking is an easy way to enhance nutty flavor and nutrition. Whether added to soups, enjoyed in taco dishes, or used as a simple grain side dish, sorghum offers much in terms of nutrition, flavor, and versatility. please give me.
Lauren Manaker MS, RDN, LD, CLEC
Lauren Manaker is an award-winning registered dietitian, book author, and recipe developer who has been in the practice for nearly 20 years.Read more about Lauren
