Buckwheat has long been touted as a healthy food due to its high fiber content. This grain also contains antioxidants and phytonutrients that support overall wellness and has therefore made its way into the sphere of health-conscious individuals looking to boost their overall well-being, and keep their health at peak levels.
There are a number of health benefits that are often attributed to buckwheat – including claims that it can be beneficial for thyroid conditions, and improve the symptoms and quality of life of those suffering from thyroid-related conditions.
We took a closer look at this claim and found some interesting facts about buckwheat’s potential role in supporting healthy thyroid function.
What Is Buckwheat?
Buckwheat is a type of plant known as Fagopyrum esculentum, which means “fodder grain”. It is a member of the pea family (Fabaceae) and is native to China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia, Siberia, and other parts of Asia.
The seeds of this plant have been cultivated since ancient times and were used by many cultures throughout history as a staple food source.
Today, buckwheat is grown on over 400 million acres worldwide, making it one of the most widely consumed grains in the world.
Buckwheat is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, and is considered an excellent source of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, manganese, zinc, vitamin B6, folate, niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, biotin, calcium, and selenium.
What Is The Thyroid?
Your thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate your metabolism, growth, development, and energy production. Your thyroid gland sits just below your Adam’s apple and behind your voice box.
It is made up of two lobes: the right lobe controls the metabolic rate; the left lobe regulates the heart rate.
When your thyroid gland isn’t working properly, your metabolism slows down, causing weight gain and fatigue. This condition is known as hypothyroidism.
If your thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormone, you will experience symptoms like slow digestion, constipation, dry skin, hair loss, depression, and muscle weakness.
If your thyroid gland overproduces hormones, you will experience symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, and excessive sweating.
This condition is known as hyperthyroidism. Both hypo and hyperthyroidism can lead to serious health problems, so it’s important to get them treated promptly.
How Does Buckwheat Affect The Thyroid?
The thyroid gland uses iodine to create thyroid hormones. Iodine is an essential nutrient that our bodies need to function normally. It is also needed by the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones.
Iodine is found naturally in seaweed, seafood, dairy products, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, nuts, beans, lentils, peas, and soybeans.
The amount of iodine required depends on age, gender, and lifestyle factors. Most people require between 150 and 200 micrograms of iodine per day.
In addition to being an essential nutrient, iodine helps maintain healthy levels of thyroid hormones. When the body lacks sufficient iodine, the thyroid gland becomes sluggish and unable to produce adequate amounts of thyroid hormones.
This causes the thyroid gland to become underactive (hypothyroidism) or overactive (hyperthyroidism).
The Benefits Of Buckwheat For Your Health
One of the main claims surrounding buckwheat is that it is beneficial for several areas of your overall health and well-being, and these include:
High Fiber Content
Fiber is another key element of buckwheat, and this is a great source that is easy to access.
Antioxidant-Rich Foods
Many people believe that antioxidant-rich foods help protect against free radical damage to cells, and thus may play a role in preventing certain types of cancer.
While there is no scientific evidence to suggest that eating antioxidant-rich foods will prevent cancer, they do provide a host of other health benefits.
Phytochemical Rich Foods
Many studies show that consuming phytochemicals helps reduce inflammation, which plays a key role in chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.
These compounds are also believed to help fight off bacteria and viruses, and may even help with weight loss.
Buckwheat is a great source of both flavonoids and phenolic acids, two groups of phytochemicals that are thought to offer protection against various forms of cancer.
Overall Wellness
In addition to being a great source of fiber, antioxidants, and phytochemicals, buckwheat is also high in several important nutrients that support overall wellness, including lignans.
Lignans are a group of phytonutrients that have been shown to help lower cholesterol levels, promote bone density, and reduce the risk of breast and prostate cancers.
They are also believed to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
How Does Buckwheat Benefit Your Thyroid?
A healthy thyroid gland is essential for proper metabolism, energy production, and hormone regulation.
When you eat a diet that includes plenty of whole grains like buckwheat, you can help ensure that your thyroid function remains optimal.
Whole Grain Consumption
Research shows that diets rich in whole grains, including buckwheat, are associated with improved thyroid function. This is because whole grains contain a variety of nutrients that work together to support thyroid health.
Fiber
Whole grains are a great source of soluble fiber, which promotes regularity and helps keep blood sugar levels steady.
Soluble fiber binds to bile salts and fats in the digestive tract, helping them move through the system more quickly. It also supports normal bowel movements by increasing stool bulk.
Whole grains are also an excellent source of insoluble fiber, which helps maintain a healthy colon. Insoluble fiber absorbs water and increases stool volume, making it easier to pass.
The combination of soluble and insoluble fibers found in whole grains helps balance blood sugar levels, which is especially important if you have hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
Antioxidants
Buckwheat is one of the richest sources of antioxidants among all whole grains. Antioxidants are substances that neutralize harmful oxygen molecules called free radicals.
Free radicals cause damage to cells throughout the body, leading to conditions such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), arthritis, cataracts, and other degenerative diseases.
Buckwheat has a higher concentration of antioxidants than most other whole grains, including oats, barley, rye, brown rice, quinoa, millet, amaranth, spelt, kamut, and triticale.
The antioxidant content of buckwheat varies depending on how it’s processed. Raw buckwheat contains about 2-3 times more antioxidants than cooked buckwheat.
Phytochemicals
As we have mentioned, many studies suggest that eating foods containing phytochemicals can help protect against certain types of cancer, and this can be relevant when discussing the thyroid. Phytochemicals are plant chemicals that act as natural antibiotics.
Some research suggests they may even prevent cancer from developing in the first place, and the seeds and flour are thought to be the most potent elements of the grain for helping with this.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a grain that will give your thyroid a boost, look no further than buckwheat. Whole grains like buckwheat provide a wide range of benefits for overall health, including supporting thyroid function.
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