If you are looking to improve your diet and health status you might want to consider the couscous health benefits. Couscous has long been considered a healthier alternative to pasta. As a type of pasta itself, it is made of small granules of semolina flour. Couscous goes through a long process of preparation and is traditional in North African cuisine. It can also be made from whole-wheat flour, which slightly increases the fibre and boosts nutritional value. As a culinary ingredient, it works wonderfully as a substitution for rice or quinoa. Not only is it healthy but it is also so versatile. Salads, soups, side dishes and even main courses are the many ways we can prepare it.
Cooking with Couscous
Aside from its nutritional value, another one of couscous health benefits is that its preparation requires little more than the addition of water and fluffing with a fork. It easily takes on the flavour of whatever you cook it with and there are multiple ways to serve couscous.
Couscous is mainly available in its natural form only in the Mediterranean region and North African countries. We can use couscous in the same way we use rice and pasta. To complement meat, vegetables, and sauce. We can also add it to salads for an interesting take, although traditionally, stew-like dishes are the go-to couscous recipes.
Nutritional Properties of Couscous
Apart from being versatile and easy to prepare, couscous has a number of other benefits, starting from its nutritional qualities. A 1 cup serving of couscous provides only 176 calories, which is 8% of a standard 2,000 calorie diet. This is far less than the calories that a cup of rice or quinoa holds, which provide 205 and 254 calories per cup, respectively.
A 1 cup of couscous also adds 6g of protein to your day, which is 12% of the daily intake that the Food and Drug Administration recommends for an adult. This is good news for physically active people, who need it for muscle building after exercise, and sustaining energy. All in all, today’s health–conscious eaters will definitely appreciate the health benefits of couscous.
The majority of calories in whole-wheat couscous consist of carbohydrates with a total of 38g per 1 cup serving. The general recommendations by the Institute of Medicine are for the consumption of 130g of carbohydrates per day for optimal energy levels.
Whole-grain couscous also contains more fat than white flour couscous, although the totals are still quite small and better-looking than pasta. A 1-cup serving of the whole wheat variety contains only 1g.
So what are the couscous health benefits you should know about?
Including couscous in your diet provides several health benefits. A 1 cup serving of couscous provides:
- 43 mcg of selenium
- 91mg of potassium
Both minerals are essential to the metabolism of your body. They regulate important functions that keep you healthy, balanced and feeling well.
Here are some of the major couscous health benefits explained in details:
Healthy Cardiovascular System
Selenium is one of the most important components of couscous. This element is an integral part of many of the health benefits that we explain here. As a trace mineral that is very difficult to find in food sources, selenium is still essential to the human body.
A single serving of couscous has more than 60% of the daily suggested intake of selenium, which means it is one of the richest sources of selenium. Its powerful antioxidant functions help the blood vessels reduce the buildup of plaque and dangerous LDL cholesterol on artery and vein walls. Regularly including couscous in your diet reduces the risk of developing dangerous and life-threatening conditions like atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.
As mentioned previously, couscous is a good source of potassium, which is another essential nutrient. Potassium plays a part in reducing the contraction of blood vessels, thereby reducing blood pressure and benefiting patients that are at high risk for various cardiovascular diseases.
Weight Loss Aid
Perhaps the best known-quality of couscous is its low calorie count, which makes it an ideal dietary food. People on diets are often looking for low-calorie substitutes to the food they love, and grains are often solution. They are filling, relatively easy to cook, and low in calories. Couscous is actually superior to rice and quinoa when it comes to grains as it has less than 200 calories in each cup. Which is less than 10% of the daily calorie intake suggested for adults. This makes it the perfect alternative for people trying to lose weight mainly through dieting.
At the same time, the extra protein that couscous provides also makes it a powerful boost for muscle development. Couscous is also very low in sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fat, all of which work against weight loss attempts.
The rich fibre content of couscous acts as a deterrent to the secretion of ghrelin. Ghrelinis the hormone responsible for the feelings of hunger. A reduction in that hormone means reducing the chances of overeating. A common problem for people who live stressful, fast-paced lives and attempting to lose weight.
Antibacterial Properties
Not a lot of people know that couscous has the ability to boost the immune system. It is a great antibacterial and antiviral agent. It is a solid deterrent against the herpes virus, cancer cells, cold sores and shingles.
Making couscous part of your diet encourages healthy eating as well as healthy living in general. Turning to low calorie substitutes for your favourite pasta and rice without sacrificing flavour may have seemed impossible in the past. Now however, there is a way to make that next meal a delicious, better-for-you hit.
Couscous is not only tasty and easy to prepare, but it also offers an abundance of nutrients. This is especially true for couscous that is certified and of high quality. Like Martino, which is milles its grains following the best traditions and that is why it is the Martino’s couscous health benefits are so many.
The way in which the food is prepared is key to finding and consuming healthy food. So it is important to be able to trace your food back to its humble beginnings. Add one of the couscous products of Martino to your diet today and see if you notice a difference in your weight and health.
Discover now all our tasty recipes to prepare couscous in many original ways
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