Sorghum: This Superfood Packs Incredible Nutritional Power
There’s been a lot of buzz around nutritious sorghum lately, and you might be wondering, is sorghum really a superfood? We have your answer below!
When you think of powerful foods or “superfoods”, you probably count the heavy hitters first: dark leafy greens, grass-fed meats, antioxidant-packed berries, and superfood herbs. These foods contain body-building, disease-fighting nutrients we rely on to stay healthy.
Grains, on the other hand, probably don’t have as many spots on your family’s superfood list. But whole grains sorghum, teff, buckwheat, and many others don’t always get the recognition they deserve. This week we want to give a warm round of applause for our superfood friend, sorghum.
Sorghum has a lot going for it. As the fifth-most produced grain in the world, sorghum is a staple grain for families around the world. With an eye-popping list of daily nutrients, sorghum does a fantastic job of boosting your energy, filling you up, and preventing disease.
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Is Sorghum a Superfood? You Bet!
There’s no stopping this powerhouse grain. The USDA recognizes sorghum as an incredible nutrient source, as a single serving contains significant amounts of protein, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, fiber, and antioxidants. Let’s take a closer look at the health benefits of sorghum.
Sorghum Aids in Digestion
Adding a serving or two of sorghum to your daily diet can do your digestive system a world of good! A serving of sorghum contains 48% of the recommended daily intake of fiber! Fiber is the ultimate body regulator, helping food stay its course through your digestive system. Adequate fiber intake also prevents constipation, diarrhea, bloating, cramping and other digestive issues. Fiber also helps to eliminate bad cholesterol from the body, which contributes to heart health.
Sorghum Boosts Energy
While all grains technically give you energy, sorghum wins the blue ribbon in our hearts. Sorghum is an excellent energy source because it is considered a complex carbohydrate, which provides sustained energy for several hours. Sorghum also contains niacin, or vitamin B3, which is known to help convert food to energy.
Sorghum Promotes Bone Health
We’ve got good news for your vegetarians out there: sorghum makes it easier for people who rely on a plant-based diet to consume and absorb key nutrients that contribute to bone health. Sorghum contains both magnesium and calcium, which help to promote bone health. Magnesium increases the absorption of calcium in your body, while calcium actually builds your bones.
Sorghum Prevents Cancer
Sorghum transforms your pantry into your medicine cabinet, since it contains disease-fighting nutrients like antioxidants. Sorghum is full of phytochemicals, which are antioxidants that prevent certain types of cancer (skin cancer, colon cancer, and esophageal cancer, to name a few). Phytochemicals are also excellent for maintaining cardiovascular health.
Sorghum is Safe for Gluten Intolerance
The USDA recognizes sorghum as 100% gluten-free, meaning it’s safe for people with Celiac’s Disease and gluten intolerance to eat on a regular basis. Both sorghum flour and whole-grain sorghum are great substitutes for wheat-based recipes. With their, light, nutty flavor, sorghum also has no problem taking the spotlight in traditional dishes.
Sorghum Increases Circulation
Sorghum contains iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium, which all have a hand in improving circulation. Copper helps the body absorb iron better, which can prevent anemia. Having plenty of iron and copper in your body helps with circulation and stimulates cell growth and repair. Iron and copper also help maintain energy levels.
There’s No End To What Sorghum Can Do!
We love sorghum because of its nutrition profile, versatility in the kitchen, and delicious flavor. Start using sorghum in your kitchen with Desert Oasis sorghum flour and sorghum whole grain.