Navaratri 2023: Navaratri celebration is incomplete without Buckwheat (Kuttu) recipes. During this major Hindu festival, people tend to consume dishes made out of Kuttu ka atta.
According to experts, Buckwheat belongs to a group of foods commonly called pseudocereals. Despite its name, it is not related to wheat and it is gluten-free.
Reena Poptani, Clinical Dietitian, Fortis Hospital Mulund, told Financial Express.com that Kuttu ka atta, or Buckwheat flour, is a widely consumed millet during fasting in India and it is an excellent substitute for cereals like rice or wheat.
What are the benefits of Kuttu ka Atta?
- Gluten-free: Buckwheat is gluten-free, suitable for people with gluten intolerance or celiac disease.
- Promotes heart health: It stores essential nutrients like the vitamin B complex, calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium. These minerals help to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Not just that, buckwheat flour is rich in antioxidant flavonoids like rutin and quercetin, which reduce inflammation in the body.
- Anti-diabetic effects: Since buckwheat is low in glycemic index and high in fibre, it helps maintain normal blood sugar levels. Also, soluble carbohydrates in buckwheat make cells more responsive to insulin as it delays the digestion of sugar.
- Maintains weight: Buckwheat has more protein than rice, wheat, or corn. It is a good source of complex carbohydrates and fibre, thus promoting satiety & aiding in weight management.
- Gut-friendly: Buckwheat flour also possesses prebiotic properties. Their dietary fibre supports digestive health by promoting regular bowel movements and preventing constipation.
“This nutritious millet can be used as whole or as flour to prepare one-pot meals, dosa, salads, healthy brownies, cookies, parathas, pancakes, cutlets, kheer, or porridge,” Poptani told Financial Express.com.
Meanwhile, Dt. Deepali Sharma, Clinical Nutritionist at the CK Birla Hospital (R) highlighted that including kuttu atta in your Navratri diet helps in reducing excessive bloating and indigestion.
What are the side effects of Kuttu ka Atta?
Although buckwheat is safe to consume, some people can become allergic to it.
“Also, individuals who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) might have difficulty digesting it, so it is recommended that they should first try buckwheat in a small amount to avoid major complications,” Poptani told Financial Express.com.
Some people who are exposed to buckwheat on the job develop buckwheat allergy.
“Re-exposure to buckwheat can lead to serious allergic reactions including skin rash; runny nose; asthma; a potentially fatal drop in blood pressure, itching, swelling, and difficulty in breathing,” Sharma told Financial Express.com.