Foods that are trending on social media aren’t necessarily healthy foods. But now there are superfoods that are packed with health benefits and are gaining in popularity. Tiger nuts or chufa are becoming the next major thing. food trends.

Tiger nuts are not actually nuts. Optimist Daily. Tiger nuts look like shriveled chickpeas, but they are actually tubers and are highly nutritious. Long a staple food in Africa and Spain, this versatile superfood can be ground into a powder, used as cooking oil, mixed with milk, or consumed whole.

Registered dietitian Lisa Moskowitz told Optimist Daily that tiger nuts “check all the boxes to make sure they’re a balanced, health-promoting plant food.” Here are six reasons why you should add these healthy tubers to your diet.

rich in antioxidants
Tiger nuts have been used medicinally for centuries because they contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Antioxidants protect cells from damage caused by oxidative stress. This helps reduce the risk of chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.

good for gut health
There’s a lot packed into this little tuber fiber. Just one serving contains 17 percent of the Recommended Daily Value (RDV). Eating enough fiber is especially important for gut health, as it aids digestion, reduces constipation, and supports a healthy gut microbiome. But dietary fiber does more than just support gut health. “A healthy microbiome influences nearly every system in the body,” says Moskowitz.

nutrition powerhouse
Tiger nuts are an excellent source of healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. WebMD. These tubers contain important nutrients such as calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium, and vitamins C and B6. Although tiger nuts don’t contain much plant protein, they are still incredibly healthy.

Replaces common allergens
Using tiger nuts in place of foods containing allergens can help manage allergies. Tiger nut flour is gluten free Nut-free options are also available. You can also use tiger nut milk as a dairy-free milk alternative.

May lower blood sugar levels
Tiger nuts may help regulate blood sugar levels health line. This may be due to the high fiber content, which can slow sugar absorption. Less sugar is absorbed in the intestines, mimicking the effect of some sugar-lowering diabetes drugs. Tubers also contain the amino acid arginine, which increases insulin production, making them beneficial for diabetics.

heart health properties
Tubers may also improve heart health. That’s because it contains monounsaturated fats. In fact, tiger nuts have the following fat profile: olive oil. A diet rich in monounsaturated fats is associated with lower LDL (bad cholesterol) levels and higher HDL (good cholesterol) levels, which are associated with a lower risk of heart disease and stroke.

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