Amaranth vegetable: a miracle plant

Amaranth is an annual herbaceous plant of the Amaranth family , numbering about 65 genera and 900 species. In the people it is called a scribe, a candlestick, rubella. Amaranth is grown, mainly as an ornamental decoration of household plots, however this is an undeservedly forgotten universal food crop. In Russia this culture is little known and therefore not in demand.

Vegetable amaranth is a tall plant, depending on the species, reaching a height of 2-3 m. The thickness of the stem reaches 10 cm, the leaves are large, elliptical, painted in yellowish, green or different shades of red. Inflorescence is a long (up to 1.5 m) panicles of different density and shape. Amaranth flowers From June to the first frost. Seeds are small, shiny, like lacquered, pink, white, black and brown.

Researches of scientists have shown, that greens and seeds of a plant have high food, medical and dietary value. Western scientists call amaranth a vegetable miracle plant, and food experts from the UN commission recognize it as the most important culture of the 21st century, capable of solving the food problem on Earth. The same idea was voiced by Academician N. Vavilov at the dawn of the twentieth century: he believed that it was the amaranth that could feed the humankind in the future.

Vegetable Amaranth Is a culture that can fill the deficiency of vitamins, microelements and protein in the human diet. For food purposes, young leaves of amaranth are widely used, of which high-protein salads, soups, purees and side dishes are prepared. They can be harvested, by drying, for future use. From flour of a plant it is possible to bake pancakes, bake bread, from its groats - to cook porridges. Decoction of stems and leaves resembles a decoction of beets, so it can be used when cooking soups, borsch, cook potatoes and porridges on it, enriching them with protein. Unique properties of amaranth are highly appreciated by foreign experts of baby food. Dozens of delicious and healthy products are prepared from its seeds for children and people who need dietary nutrition.

Valuable amaranth is valuable and as a medicinal plant. All its parts contain a protein of the highest quality, which includes many vitamins, essential amino acids, mineral salts and a huge amount of bioactive substances that enhance the antioxidant effect of the plant. Nutritionists unanimously believe that the nutritional value of vegetable amaranth is higher than that of the buckwheat we know, and its germinated seeds are not inferior to mother's milk in terms of the content of the nutrients they contain. Regular use of amaranth improves metabolism. People living in ecologically unfavorable places should know that amaranth can excrete radionuclides, toxic substances, salts of heavy metals from the body. This miracle plant can inhibit the development of malignant tumors, has a hematopoietic effect and a powerful regenerating and rejuvenating effect. Tea from the leaves of amaranth (fresh or dried), with the addition of oregano and lemon balm, is not inferior in flavor to the best Indian varieties, and added an amaranth leaf to the 3-liter jar when preserving the cucumbers, will keep them elastic and fresh for a long time.

The lack of quality protein in existing animal feed is an important factor limiting the growth of livestock products. The unresolved nature of this problem leads to a huge annual over-expenditure of grain. Amaranth fodder can be an excellent way out of the situation, as the content of protein, vitamins and amino acids, it significantly exceeds the traditionally used forage crops. High yield and stability of fodder amaranth to various diseases and pests make this culture even more valuable, since they allow producing environmentally friendly products in large quantities.

The plant has a wide application in floriculture. It looks great on lawns and can decorate any flower garden. For ornamental purposes, the amaranth is laced with an openwork - a slim, powerful plant adorned with lush, biscuit-like dough, and 50-60 cm long inflorescences. Plants are decorative from July, when the inflorescences are completely formed, and until frost. Dry flowers do not lose their form and color and serve as an excellent material when arranging dry bouquets.