More often than not, if you have Celiac disease or suffer from any gluten sensitivity, you already have come across Teff. Never heard? Well, it’s a grain you should be including in your diet. Why? Here it goes.
Teff is the chief ingredient in the Ethiopian and Eritrean engera. What is engera, you may ask. It is a flat sour-like fermented pancake that is used with “wot”, a stew made with spices, meats, lentils, beans and split peas. Teff is a small grain, round in shape, khaki-colored and looks like millet.
Teff is so small, the smallest in the world actually, it’s always nowhere to be found after harvesting and threshing process. It has been popular with Ethiopians and Eritreans for quite a while now due to its nutritional benefits. It contains about 11% protein, 3% fat, and 80% complex carbohydrates. Essential amino acids, particularly lysine which is lacking in most grain foods, also add up to its nutritional qualities. Teff even has more of those amino acids compared to barley, wheat, and millet.
Other important nutrients Teff has to offer are fiber, iron, calcium, potassium, and other significant minerals. Also, the short fermentation process of making engera paves way spawning a lot more vitamins.
It doesn’t end there. Teff is known for its high content of fiber that it helps in dealing with diabetes since it regulates blood sugar. Albeit the fact that there are practically no studies in regards to the risk and prevalence of diabetes particularly among Ethiopian immigrants in America, scientists in Israel conducted a study among new Ethiopian immigrants and it included comparison of the prevalence rates of diabetes in the new immigrants and those who had been residing in Israel for 2 and a half years to 4.The said study revealed that the new immigrants had lower prevalence rates since those who have been there for years were already exposed to Western diet and lifestyle for a much longer period of time.
Imagine all the nutritional benefits of Teff. Dig further about it and you might just look for it in the groceries any minute from now.
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