Couscous is a North African dish that looks like rice, but it is tiny balls of pasta made from semolina. It has a neutral flavor similar to foods made from wheat. Its neutral flavor makes it an ideal side dish for vegetables and protein. Although it originated from North Africa, couscous is now taken worldwide.
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The pantry grain dish is easy to store, super-versatile, and easy to prepare. It is naturally made from durum wheat semolina. It is tossed into both cooked and raw vegetable salad, mixed in the stew, and served as a side dish. It is delicious when stuffed into a pepper or used as a base for salads.
Couscous has a wide variety of health benefits. It includes increasing heart health, lowering cancer risk, promoting metabolism, controlling fluid levels, assisting weight loss efforts, healing wounds, and improving digestion. A good number of the health benefits of couscous can be attached to its vitamin and mineral content.
It is easy to assume that couscous is a healthy grain because it looks like it, but it is a type of pasta. It is usually in natural form except in the United States and other nations, where it is in the form of pre-cooked and dried balls.
How Healthy Is Couscous?
There are three different types of couscous: Lebanese, Israeli or Pearl couscous, and Moroccan.
Lebanese is the largest of the three couscouses with the longest cooking time. The Israeli or pearl couscous is like the size of peppercorns, and it has a chewy texture and nuttier flavor. The Moroccan, which is the tiniest, is the most readily available.
The Pearl couscous looks like tiny pearls when they are packaged. It is either made with white flour or whole wheat. The calorie content in pearl couscous nutrition value is 170 grams in a 1/3-cup serving and 180 grams in a 1/3-cup serving.
Here are the health benefits of taking couscous:
Improve Cardiovascular System
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Selenium is one of the essential nutrients in couscous. It is a trace mineral that is difficult to find in food sources. It is a powerful antioxidant that helps to reduce the buildup of plaque on artery veins and walls. It has many health benefits and is an essential mineral that plays a role in cardiovascular health.
Selenium reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in the body. It is one of the richest sources of selenium in food. Therefore, selenium protects the body from life-threatening conditions.
Couscous is also a source of potassium, which is another mineral responsible for heart health. Potassium is essential in reducing blood pressure. It also helps in the regular beating of the heart.
Lower The Risk of Cancer
Consuming adequate amounts of selenium may help your risk of cancer. It may have anticancer potential.
Selenium is a very beneficial element with a wide range of benefits. It plays a vital role in the metabolic pathways, which may lead to the protection or proliferation of cancer cells.
Boosts Immune System
The natural antioxidant properties of selenium can also give your immune system a boost. Its antioxidant functions include reducing inflammation, boosting immunity, fighting against the proliferation of free radicals and toxins in the body, and regenerating vitamins C and E.
Couscous is a powerful addition to the body’s natural defenses.
It Is a Healthy Fast Food
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Couscous is usually considered a healthy fast food because it is easy and quick to prepare. It is a healthy alternative to pasta combined with other grains, vegetables, and brown rice.
It is light and fluffy when properly cooked. The western version of couscous is found in supermarkets as pre-steamed or dried.
Weight Loss Aid
People on a diet often look for low-calorie sources of beneficial food. This is because they are filling, have fewer calories, and are easy to take.
Couscous is superior because it has less than 200 calories. This makes it very beneficial for people willing to lose weight. Couscous is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, all of which work against attempts on weight loss. It has a rich fiber content that might work against the secretion of ghrelin, the hunger hormone.
Improves Digestion
A cup of couscous may have up to 10% of the body’s required fiber intake per day. It helps properly digest food, stimulates peristaltic movement, and adds bulk to bowel movements.
Dietary fiber can also function as a cleaner or scraper of the arteries. It also helps to stimulate the retention of HDL, the good cholesterol. Fiber reduces constipation.
Conclusion
Couscous might not be everybody’s choice, but it has numerous health and nutrition benefits. It can boost your immune system and reduce the risk of diseases. If you don’t mind taking gluten and want an easy-to-prepare grain, you should consider couscous.
I have a Bachelor’s degree in medicine and am presently working at a renowned hospital in California. I used my leisure time to share my expertise with others through my blog. In addition to my work in healthcare, I like reading fiction and enjoy writing posts a lot. I want to use my writing to help the health sector on my blog site. You’ll get exclusive informational content about health & Fitness.