The couscous has properties that enhance health: it is energetic, prevents constipation, protects cardiovascular health, among other benefits. Couscous is a traditional Moroccan and North African Berber dish. It is made with wheat semolina, vegetables, chickpeas and red meat.
It is the most important dish in several African towns in the north. In addition, it is linked to religious themes. For example, Couscous is cooked every Friday, as a kind of culinary ritual for Muslims..
In Arab gastronomy we can appreciate this food in different preparations, whether they are salads, main dishes or soups, which have a great historical tradition.
This food is made with semolina from the hard part of the ground wheat, which has not been converted into flour. These grains are cooked and tend to swell until they increase their diameter and consequently obtain their particular yellowish shape and appearance..
Today, it is marketed throughout the world through pasta brands and in packages, as a non-perishable food. In the following lines, I invite you to read the health benefits derived from regular consumption of couscous.
This food strengthens the immune system. This is because of the antioxidant qualities of selenium. This micronutrient, present in couscous, helps to fight against the proliferation of free radicals and other toxins in the body and the bloodstream, which strengthens the body's defenses..
Selenium, according to the Organic Facts website, stimulates the regeneration of vitamins C and E, which play an important role in protecting the body. Couscous, by having these nutrients contributes greatly in this matter.
For the development of muscle mass, selenium plays a preponderant role, since it reinforces the body's protein metabolism and contributes to the development of muscles..
Studies have shown that selenium deficiency in the body is one of the main causes of muscle weakness, abnormal fatigue, tiredness or general body weakness.
Consequently, because this nutrient is difficult to acquire naturally, couscous may be one of the best sources to obtain it. In this way, you will improve the muscle mass of your body.
Couscous contains almost 10% of the daily fiber intake, which the body requires, considering a cup of this food.
As it contains fiber, it contributes to the good digestion of foods eaten by people and provides benefits to the gastrointestinal system..
In addition, this element helps to give volume to the peristaltic movement of the intestine, which are the contractions of the smooth muscle through which food moves throughout the digestive tract..
As if that weren't enough, fiber also works as a scraper or cleaner for the arteries, removing harmful LDL cholesterol from the body and retaining the good, HDL..
This reduces the chances of constipation, preventing harmful intestinal conditions, particularly stomach and colorectal cancer..
Selenium, present in couscous, has an even more health benefits.
It stands out as being a catalyst in metabolic pathways, which lead to the proliferation or protection of certain types of cancer.
Recent studies have even linked a selenium deficiency in the body to an increased risk of prostate cancer.
Therefore, according to Organic facts, adequate amounts of selenium in the body will translate into antimetastatic qualities and better overall prevention against cancers. In fact, selenium would be, in turn, associated with the prevention of lung cancer and carcinogenesis for smokers, when combined with vitamin E and vitamin C.
Prostate cancer has gotten the attention of experts so far, but studies, linking couscous and selenium to other cancers, are still ongoing..
In this list you can know other anticancer foods.
It is difficult for the body to recover after an injury, illness or surgery, since the reconstruction of the skin, due to the damaged cells, takes time. As well as the normal function of the body.
Couscous can be of great help during this recovery period, as it provides large amounts of protein.
This nutrient is an integral part of wound healing, as well as in the metabolism of enzymes that help repair the body, both internally and externally..
More than 15% of the human body is made up of proteins. Any food source rich in this element, such as couscous, is something positive for the body.
Selenium is a trace mineral that is very difficult to find in food sources, but it is an essential mineral in the human body..
It should be noted that a single serving of couscous has more than 60% of the recommended daily intake of selenium, so this food is powerful in that area.
Regarding the health of the heart, selenium is an antioxidant that acts mainly in the blood vessels to reduce the accumulation of plaque and the "bad" cholesterol, LDL, dangerous in the arterial walls..
In this way, couscous protects the body from developing diseases such as atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes..
On the other hand, couscous contains potassium. This nutrient also reduces blood vessel contraction, blood pressure, and helps patients at risk of cardiovascular disease. It also helps in the normal beat of the heart, and prevents cardiac arrhythmias.
Couscous, as it contains calcium, is a food that protects the bones. It alleviates the wear and tear that occurs on the skeleton over time, with body movement, or with possible bone fractures.
This element is also important for the health of the teeth and prevents osteoporosis. With calcium, in addition, according to the Zliving site, healthy skin is maintained and blood pressure is reduced. Calcium also helps prevent insomnia.
This food is whole grain and, therefore, is a good source of B complex vitamins, necessary for our body to stay healthy, says the Livestrong site.
Couscous, specifically, provides thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, B6, folic acid, and pantothenic acid.
These nutrients help metabolize energy, maintain healthy red blood cells, prevent certain birth defects, and maintain healthy skin, blood, brain, nervous system, heart, and immune system..
Couscous, thanks to its high content of carbohydrates, such as starch, and vitamin B1, is a food that provides energy.
For this reason, it is a recommended meal for those who practice sports and require an injection of energy before and after working with the muscles..
For those who want to lose those extra kilos, especially in the abdominal area, the consumption of couscous is recommended, according to the Fawesome Ifood website..
The above is explained because this food is low in fat, even less than rice or pasta..
In this sense, replacing noodles or noodles with couscous is a good measure to reduce sizes and, incidentally, obtain nutrients from this meal. It can be consumed a cup of couscous a day, in salad, soup or accompanied with a piece of meat or tuna.
Like quinoa, couscous is a good antioxidant for the body. It is composed of flavonoids (polyphenols), quercetin and keampferol, which prevent cardiovascular diseases, cancer, osteoporosis and diabetes.
This is because they block free radicals, molecules that damage the body's cells and multiply, according to a study The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, regarding polyphenols.
Since couscous, as mentioned above, supports the immune system, it is also a good antibacterial and antiviral agent..
It has already been suggested that it is a strong deterrent against cancer cells, but in addition, it is added that it fights cold sores, herpes zoster and the herpes virus, as the Revelations Twelve page alludes to..
The human body is known to be made up of more than 90% water. The proper balance of this vital fluid in organs and cavities of the body is of utmost importance for the normal functioning of the body..
Well, the potassium present in couscous helps to achieve this regulation of fluids inside the body..
This balance controls the digestive system and normal urine output, as well as keeping blood pressure normal. These actions induce the prevention of conditions such as atherosclerosis and cerebrovascular accidents..
Couscous is a rich source of manganese. One cup of this semolina provides about 7% of the daily value that the body requires of this mineral. A mineral that helps maintain healthy blood, bones, nerves, hormones, and brain.
It also helps regulate blood sugar and metabolism. Manganese, moreover, is an antioxidant, which protects the body from free radicals and the damage caused by them.
Another reason to include couscous in your diet is that it is low in calories..
It's easy to make and you will get less than 200 calories from a cup of couscous, according to the New Health Advisor website. This fact makes this semolina an even better option than other cereals such as rice or quinoa..
As I said before, this food has proteins. Something that also serves to burn body fat. It is also low in cholesterol and, as I said above, it is low in saturated fat and sodium..
According to Gabriela Sarrat, an academic at the School of Nutrition and Dietetics of the Andrés Bello University of Chile, quoted by La Segunda newspaper, couscous: “is made of steamed, grainy, yellow durum wheat semolina, which contains the nutritive substances of the whole grain and an important fiber content, especially in its whole variety ".
The Steadyrun site provides the nutritional characteristics contained in this food. The components listed below are based on the amount of 100 grams of food.
Ingredients:
preparation:
According to the Happy Dieter site, the couscous, being similar to rice and pasta, cannot be consumed by a person with celiac disease..
Being made from durum wheat, it is not gluten-free. It may seem that a whole grain does not contain it, but it is actually a small pasta, a staple of some countries, that is used to accompany meat stews.
If you have a wheat allergy, you should not eat semolina, such as couscous. Common symptoms include hives, sneezing, runny nose, stomach aches, nausea, vomiting, or asthma. In severe cases, anaphylaxis causes shortness of breath and the body goes into a state of shock that can be life-threatening..
If you are sensitive to gluten, side effects include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation. Joint pain and headaches may also be experienced. Other symptoms are changes in behavior, such as poor attention, hyperactivity, or depression..
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