The Amarant (Amaranthus) is a plant kind in the family of the fox tail plants (Amaranthaceae). The kind covers about 60 kinds, which occur on all continents except the Antarctic.

Amaranthus kinds are in the warmer zones of the earth spread, usually in dry steppe areas, wasteland and Kulturland.Die largest diversity of species are in America.

History

Amarant is an old cultivated plant. Amarant ranks among the oldest useful plants of mankind. Above all the seeds of the grains reminding of millet are used. Already with the Aztecs, Inkas (Amaranthus caudatus predominantly Kiwicha designated, this designation today still in and region used) and Mayas the grain-similar grains beside Quinoa and corn were a Hauptnahrungsmittel. Into nearly 9,000 years seed of these plants was proven to old graves in Mexico.

The Spaniards were afraid in 16. Century that the Indios would be uncontrollable due to the strong food, the cultivation became with death penalty forbidden and destroyed the fields. As consequence million Indios at lack nutrition died. After other sources the Spaniards forbade the cultivation, since Amarant added an important with ceremonies the God service was, in order to prevent so ceremonies the people victims.

In central India (Kayatha) fox tail became (Setaria pumila) starting from approx. 2500 v. Chr.) cultivated and probably also domestiziert. From the place of discovery Senuwar to middle course are proven, only in the first settlement phase rice (Oryza sativa) and fox tail from a later phase wheat, barley, lenses and peas.

Cultivation

Amarant is to a large extent undemanding to the soil. It gets along with relatively little water. It verwildert easily and is considered also as ornamental plant.

Economically used kinds

Some Amarant kinds are useful plants.

In the old world:

• Amaranthus blitum L., ascending Amarant
• Amaranthus tricolor L.,
• Amaranthus viridis L., the Green Amarant

In the new world:

• • Amaranthus cruentus L., Rispenfuchsschwanz
  • Amaranthus dubius Mart. ex Thell., (no German name admits)
  • Amaranthus spinosus L., thorny fox tail
  • Amaranthus caudatus L., Kiwicha

Contents materials

Amarant has a far higher protein and mineral material content than world-wide traditionally cultivated grain places. The proteins consist of many essenziellen amino acids, the content of calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc are very high. Coal hydrates and ballast materials are present in equal high quantities. With the contained fat it concerns about 70% insatiated fatty acids. The contents materials are not contained only in large quantities, but combines in a relationship very favorable for the human nutrition.

However Amarant contains certain Gerbstoffe, which can be likewise easily problematic for the human organism.

Use

Amarant is a pseudo grain. It looks like grain and its seed is also in such a way used, but it is not a grain. Amarant is glow-free. This makes it an adequate and compatible grain replacement with the wide-spread glow incompatibility Besides the high Eisengehalt is valuable with iron-deficiency anemia and during the pregnancy.

Among numerous health-promoting effects the increase of the efficiency of the body, with sleep disturbances, Linderung of chronic headache are to rank assistance and from stomach problems.

The sheets of all Amarantarten are eaten as vegetables. The seeds of the Rispenfuchsschwanzes are used similarly as grain.

Food industry uses Amarant today in the baby and child food, as mixing in bread, pastry and with pancakes and Pastas, also in Wurstwaren as well as within the nearly Food range with latch plates and Snacks.

Amarant unfolds its typically nussigen smell when cooking. The consumption can take place in the or to cooked as supplement. Amarantmehl is suitable only limited for baking. The health food trade leads purely or as if added (also gepoppt) in

Other kinds

Other Amaranthus kinds are Kulturbegleitpflanzen.

Nearly all kinds occurring in Europe were brought in in the last two centuries particularly from America. Native (south Europe) only Amaranthus might be graecizans L. and Amaranthus lividus L. All kinds love warm and nutrient-rich soils. Since they need higher temperatures for germinating, one finds them particularly in cultures, like vegetable, cultivated late, corn, in vineyards With the expansion of the cultivation of corn to central and Northern Europe also the Amarant kinds spread as field weeds.

Reference

The food is not to confound with the coloring material Amaranth (E 123), a red, well water-soluble Azofarbstoff, which finds as food color use.

Related links

• Food encyclopedia
• Amaranth information
• Cultivation and nutrient table
• SWR
• Bavarian broadcast
• Second Channel of German Television

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