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How to find such an amaranth plant. The use of amaranth for medical purposes - the benefits and treatment of diseases

Recipes from it? Of course not. In most cases, this herb is neglected. But in vain! After all, amaranth has recently become very popular all over the world. First of all, due to its unique abilities, it prevents the development of oncological diseases and not only. It turns out that amaranth is useful for problems with the heart, liver, female genital organs and colds. Interesting? Read on!

Amaranth plant: a short description

Another name for the above plant is squid. The word "amaranth" is translated from Latin as "unfading". This plant received this name due to the long flowering cycle - more than two months.

Amaranth has the following features:

perennial or annual plant;
the maximum height of the bushes is up to two meters;
It has ;
the inflorescence is large, spike-shaped;
fruits - a rounded box, inside which there are about 2000 seeds.

Today, more than 15 species of this plant are known, which grows mainly in the Caucasus.

Amaranth is a medicinal plant that is unpretentious and does not require special conditions for growth and care. It does not lend itself to frost and tolerates drought well. This plant is highly fertile: up to 10 crops can be harvested per year.

Brief historical information about the plant

For more than 8 thousand years, medicinal amaranth has been cultivated. A photo of this plant always looks very impressive. Therefore, amaranth was used as a decorative decoration. Studying the culture and the Aztecs, experts came to the conclusion: it turns out that these peoples also used this plant in the process of cooking.

The above plant was first brought to Russia at the end of the 15th century. At first, it was considered a weed and was not used in cooking.

The spread of this cereal crop was facilitated by scientists from the botanical gardens of Voronezh and Kazan State Universities. These experts carefully studied this plant, held conferences and seminars on the use of amaranth in the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Amaranth chemical composition

This cereal plant has a very useful composition. It contains:

serotonin;
xanthines;
bile acids;
steroids;
squalene;
choline;
B vitamins;
pantothenic acid;
vitamin tocopherol acetate and D.

In alternative medicine, a plant such as the herb amaranth is used entirely. Any part of it has healing properties: leaves, seeds, stem.

For example, the seeds of a plant are also characterized by a rather healing composition:

antioxidant squalene;
16% protein;
unsaturated fat (about 6%);
vitamins E, rutin, D, group B;
trace elements phosphorus, calcium, magnesium;
pectin;
gluten.

Amaranth: application

This plant is used in many areas. Interestingly, even during the time of the Aztec tribe, it was used for cooking and as fuel. Nowadays, amaranth is intensively used in areas such as:

Cooking - first and second courses, as well as drinks are prepared from it. In addition, bakery products are enriched with amaranth seeds, and they are also added to baby food.
Perfumery - the oils of this plant are used for the production of perfumes.
As an element of decor, amaranth is often planted in summer cottages, since this plant looks quite interesting.
As animal feed. Experts say: if you introduce amaranth into the feed, the animals will grow twice as fast.

It should be noted that this plant is widely used in pharmaceuticals for the production of medicinal products. Alternative medicine also does not forget amaranth: healers recommend recipes for various tinctures and lotions from the above herb for the treatment of many diseases.

Amaranth: medicinal properties, photo

This plant has the following beneficial properties:

due to the high content of squalene, amaranth is a powerful agent against malignant tumors;
promotes rapid recovery of the body after chemotherapy;
strengthens the immune system;
eliminates hormonal imbalance;
cleanses the body of toxins, toxins and other diseases.

In addition, scientists argue that such a new substance as amarantine contains the herb amaranth. Its medicinal properties lie in the fact that it helps to accelerate the work of the human body.

The above plant is also characterized by antioxidant properties.

But these are not all the advantages that medicinal amaranth has. The seeds of the plant contain a very valuable oil. This product is not cheap and extremely useful. Amaranth oil is a powerful immunostimulating, bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and anticancer agent.

Thanks to the above product, amaranth is extremely healing. The healing properties of the oil of this plant are in the following effects on the body:

normalization of the functioning of the human reproductive system;
cell regeneration and anti-aging effect;
improving the condition of the skin, increasing its elasticity and firmness;
active weight loss with symptoms of obesity;
prevention of cancer, heart disease and heart disease;
strengthening of immunity.

Hemostatic ability is another unique property of a plant like amaranth. Also, thanks to (rutin), it strengthens the walls of the capillaries, makes the vessels less penetrating, cleans them of cholesterol.

Indications for the use of the plant

oncology;
atherosclerosis;
adenoma;
haemorrhoids;
vitamin deficiency (especially a lack of vitamin P);
obesity;
hypertension;
radiation damage;
diseases of the skin (eczema, diathesis, rash, allergies);
colds, flu;
problems with the heart and its system;
disorders of the nervous system;
hormonal imbalance;
hepatitis;
female diseases (erosion, ovarian cysts, colpitis, inflammation of the appendages, endometriosis).

Traditional medicine and amaranth

Healers for the treatment of multiple diseases actively use infusions, lotions and baths based on the above plant. For this, in most cases, dry amaranth is used. The healing properties (recipes of folk remedies from the plant reveal them well, unlike the drugs of official medicine) contribute to a positive result already in the first week of such therapy.

Amaranth infusion is prepared as follows: 15 g of a mixture of dry raw materials (stem, inflorescence, roots, plant seeds) is poured with a glass of boiling water, and then kept on light heat or in a water bath for about 15 minutes. Since the taste of such a medicine is somewhat astringent and sweetish, traditional medicine experts advise adding lemon juice or a spoonful of honey to this infusion. Healers are advised to use this remedy within a crescent of 50 ml daily. After taking such a medicine, it is allowed to eat in 15-20 minutes.

An amaranth bath for the treatment of skin diseases is prepared as follows: approximately 350 g of a dry plant are steamed with two liters of boiling water. Let it brew, and then pour this product into the bath, adding a little water. This procedure should be carried out for 20 minutes a day.

A remedy based on amaranth for gastritis and pain in the liver is prepared as follows: the juice of a fresh plant is mixed with cream in a 1: 1 ratio. After meals, take a tablespoon of this medication, but not more than three times a day.

An infusion of fresh leaves of the plant perfectly relieves pain in the stomach. To do this, pour a tablespoon of amaranth with a cup of boiling water, leave for up to 40 minutes. Mix a quarter of a glass of this infusion with a dessert spoon of honey and take 3 times a day.

Amaranth: medicinal properties, recipes for dishes in which they are manifested

Alternative medicine for good health and the prevention of cardiovascular and oncological diseases advises to eat food enriched with the above plant. The Japanese, for example, make sure to include this herb in their diet and compare its nutritional value with squid (greens) and milk (grains).

Chinese medicine actively uses amaranth against aging. The medicinal properties (recipes help to maximize their manifestation) are well revealed when using not just preparations based on a plant, but precisely when it is used in cooking.

For example, you can make porridge from amaranth. It is prepared from plant seeds, a glass of which is boiled in three glasses of water for about 45 minutes, while mixing them thoroughly. If desired, you can add fruits or nuts to the finished porridge.

It should be noted that amaranth seeds crushed into flour are often used in baking bread. They perfectly enrich this product, give it a special taste.

How to prepare amaranth?

This plant is harvested only at the end of summer. After all, only then the amaranth flowering period completely ends, and it ripens. But there are varieties that need to be harvested in the winter.

This process takes place manually at home and with the help of a combine, if the plant is harvested on an industrial scale.

The stems can be stewed, fermented or frozen.

It should be noted that the plant does not lose its properties in the freezer and can be stored for more than one year.

Contraindications to the use of the plant

severe form of diseases of the digestive system;
urolithiasis disease;
individual intolerance to this substance.

In addition, it is allowed to give amaranth to children. The plant, the medicinal properties of which for this category of patients show themselves very well, are added by manufacturers to baby food products.

Patients suffering from pancreatitis and cholecystitis, before using amaranth, need to get advice from an experienced specialist about this.

Amaranth is a unique plant that copes well with especially severe ailments, especially cancer. But before proceeding with the treatment with the shiritsa, it is imperative to discuss this issue with your doctor.

Kirill Sysoev

Callous hands do not know boredom!

Content

Amaranth is an extremely useful medicinal herb. The ancient civilizations of the Aztecs, Incas, Maya used for sacred rituals, eaten, because its nutritional value is not inferior to rice or oats. Amaranth (Latin Amaranthus) means the giver of immortality, unfading, "bestowed by God." The main qualities of the plant are medicinal value, nutritional value, strengthening of immunity, antitumor effect.

Amaranth herb

Amaranth is an annual or perennial plant with a branched stem 70–150 cm high. Leaves are ovoid or oblong-ovoid, alternate, at the base tied into a petiole. The flowers are small, unisexual, gathered in purple-red, dense spike-shaped inflorescences 20-50 cm high. The fruit is non-opening or opening across the lid. The seeds are small, have a strong skin, and are adapted to shedding from the fruit. Amaranth is green, less often red. Most of the species grows in South and North America, China, about 20 varieties in Russia.

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More than 100 plant species are known. Other names of the culture are shiritsa, aksamitnik, velvet, cock's combs. All varieties are cultivated into three groups: decorative, fodder, vegetable. The following types of amaranth are most known:

Amaranth paniculata, or blood. Fast growing plant that does not tolerate frost. It is distinguished by a brown-red shade of leaves and vertical inflorescences with hanging ends. Before flowering, the young aboveground part in some countries is eaten, used as green fertilizer or as feed for pigs.
Amaranth tricolor, or Chinese spinach. Due to the green, yellow or bright red color of the leaves, it is often bred in gardens for decoration. This species is considered a dietary, protein-rich product that removes heavy metals, protects against certain diseases, and improves immunity.
Tailed amaranth. The plant is distinguished by drooping inflorescences that resemble tails. Dark purple or white in color. Sometimes the leaves are eaten like spinach. Seeds can replace feed for poultry, and the aerial part is used for feeding cattle, pigs, and sheep.
Amaranth is white. Weakly branched squid, greenish-white flowers, collected on the axils of the leaves. Dead or dried plants turn into tumbleweeds.
Amaranth dark. The species has an emerald green color. With the onset of cold weather, the color of the leaves becomes multi-colored. A heat-loving, light-loving, drought-tolerant plant, ideal for filling empty spaces in flower beds or for arranging bouquets.

Composition

As a result of numerous scientific studies, a unique chemical and amino acid composition of the shrimp has been identified, where the vitamin, mineral and nutritional components are balanced. The plant serves as a source of many micro and macro elements, which indicates the need to include it in the diet. Flour and healing amaranth oil are made from the seeds of the plant. The calorie content of amaranth is 371 kcal.

Minerals	Vitamins	Other elements
	Vitamin B6	Saturated fat
	Vitamin B5	Monounsaturated fat
	Vitamin B2	Polyunsaturated fats
	Vitamin B1
	Vitamin B9	Carbohydrates
	Vitamin PP
Manganese	Vitamin C
	Vitamin K	Alimentary fiber
	Vitamin A

Useful properties of amaranth

Due to its chemical composition, shiritsa has numerous medicinal and beneficial properties. The plant is a source of phytosterols, which, entering the human body, reduce the concentration of cholesterol and triglycerides. Amaranth oil generally has a beneficial effect on people, on patients with coronary heart disease, hypertension. In addition, the oil copes with various types of damage to the skin: burns, cuts, insect bites, bedsores.

High quality protein is contained in large quantities. The leaves and seeds of the plant contain 30% more protein than rice, oats and other types of grains. In addition, it contains lysine - the most valuable and irreplaceable amino acid for the human body, which performs the functions of muscle fiber synthesis, muscle tissue formation. Useful substances containing leaves or oil of the shrimp are used for:

prevention of osteoporosis;
an increase in the content of calcium in the body;
regulation of metabolism;
reducing the likelihood of cancer cells, vascular and heart disease.

The use of amaranth is recommended for various diseases of the organs of vision, for example, with cataracts, conjunctivitis, night blindness, blepharitis. In addition to this, squalene and unsaturated fatty acids contained in the squale have a beneficial effect on blood circulation, fight against malignant tumors, enrich the body with oxygen, which has a good effect on the state of the entire human body, including the organs of vision.

Amaranth use

The seeds of the plant are used for hemorrhoids, diarrhea, heavy menstrual flow, inflammatory processes of the genitourinary system. Amaranth oil is obtained from the seeds, which is a source of antioxidants, many vitamins and polyunsaturated Omega-6 fatty acid necessary for the body. The oil is used to treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, diabetes mellitus, varicose veins, heart attacks, strokes, and inflammatory processes.

kidney disease;
gastrointestinal infections;
heart disease;
with dermatitis, eczema, erosion - externally;
for rashes, diathesis, allergies, take a bath with a solution of the plant.

The juice from the leaves of the squid is a source of natural protein, which is actively used in baby food. It contains many important amino acids: methionine, threonine, phenylalanine, cystine, leucine, etc. The juice is also used for the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases: asthma, tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis. The phyolic acid contained in the plant reduces the number of defects in the brain and spinal cord, which is important for pregnant women and for breastfed babies.

In folk medicine

Due to its haemostatic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, restorative properties, the squid is actively used in folk medicine. The seeds and leaves of the plant are able to fully provide the body with the necessary vitamins, calcium, potassium, and iron salts. Amaranth tea will be an excellent remedy for obesity, neuroses, for strengthening the immune system. Shrimp oil contains a variety of unsaturated and organic acids, which provide the body's resistance to disease.

Amaranth tincture

To prepare an aqueous tincture, 15 grams of dry crushed plants (roots, stems, seeds, inflorescences) are poured with a glass of boiling water, after which they are kept in a water bath for 15 minutes, left to infuse, then filtered. Add honey or lemon juice if desired. Take 50 ml half an hour before meals, for two weeks. Tincture from this plant will enhance the body's resistance to viruses, prevent the proliferation of cancer cells, is used for gastric ulcer.

Homemade butter on the squid

To prepare medicinal oil, 1 part of the seeds is crushed in a mortar, combined with 3 parts of any heated oil and put into a thermos. After 7 days, the oil is carefully drained, and the seeds are squeezed into a glass bottle, then the whole process is repeated several more times with new seeds. The resulting oil is stored in a dark, cool place. Take a teaspoon up to three times a day for 1 month. It has a beneficial effect on blood vessels, heart and liver. A wide range of external cosmetic applications.

Amaranth bath recipes

For 2 liters of boiling water take 300-400 gr. plant raw materials, insist 15 minutes in a water bath, filter and add to a bath filled with water. The procedure takes up to 30 minutes. It is used to treat skin diseases, insect bites, burns, bedsores, and has an antibacterial effect. It is not recommended to use the squid for pancreatitis, urolithiasis, cholecystitis, celiac disease.

In cooking

Shirin leaves can be boiled, fried, steamed, seeds can be added to baked goods and any dish. In some countries, confectionery or flour products are made from seeds. In Peru, beer is brewed from amaranth raw materials, and in Asia, porridge. Shiri butter is similar to any vegetable oil, it is suitable for frying and dressing salads. Amaranth cereal is also known, which does not contain gluten and is ideal for small children, pregnant and lactating women.

Puree soup with amaranth

Nutritionists have long proven that soup should be on the menu of every person. Unusual puree soup with a spicy addition - boiled amaranth seeds, which makes its taste completely unforgettable, diversifies any diet. In addition, all dishes from this miracle plant are healthy, contain a lot of protein and will not harm the figure, as they are dietary.

Ingredients:

vegetable or meat broth - 1 l;
milk -1/4 l;
corn flour - 2 tbsp. l .;
onion - 1 pc.;
boiled amaranth seeds - 100 gr.;
salt, pepper, nutmeg - to taste.

Cooking method:

Combine the broth with milk and onion, finely crushed, chopped and fried in vegetable oil. Boil.
Add cornmeal and amaranth, chopped in a mixer. Season with salt, pepper, sprinkle with nutmeg. Remove from heat.

Amaranth grain bread

The healing properties of amaranth have been known since ancient times. For a long time, our ancestors made flour from the seeds of the shrimp and baked bread, which was considered a source of longevity. Baked bread with a rich herbal smell of amaranth has healing properties, does not stale for a long time, is a very nutritious and protein product, and reduces the risk of many diseases.

Ingredients:

baking soda - 1 tsp;
whole wheat flour - 1 tbsp.;
egg white - 1 pc .;
coarse flour - 3/4 st.;
amaranth seeds - 3/4 st.;
margarine - 1 tbsp. l .;
skim cream - 1 tbsp.

Cooking method:

Sift soda with flour, combine with other dry ingredients.
Add beaten egg to milk and melted margarine.
Mix well, add to dry mass. Then put the resulting dough on an oiled baking sheet, bake in the oven for 25 minutes at a temperature of 170-180 degrees Celsius.

Growing amaranth

Schiritsa is a weed, so the plant is unpretentious, adapts to any temperatures and even droughts. It is better to sow seeds when the temperature of the earth reaches 5-6 ° C, and the soil is saturated with water, which is important at the very beginning of amaranth growth. This plant is placed with aisles of 45 cm, at a distance of 7–10 cm from each other. Shoots appear after 10 days.

The upper part of the plant develops slowly at first. The flower must be loosened every ten days, weeded the soil. The seeds of the squid are harvested in the fall, and the flower panicles are threshed and spread in a thin layer in the air to dry. The crop is pickled and frozen. You can eat amaranth seeds. Each plant gives on average up to 600 thousand seeds, which remain viable for up to 4 years.

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Amaranth - what is it, useful properties of a plant, use in cooking and traditional medicine

Growing amaranth from seeds: sowing, plant care, protection from weeds and pests.

Sowing amaranth

Since the seeds of amaranth are quite small, before sowing, the soil on the site must be sufficiently clean (from plant residues) and crushed, the surface of the site must be leveled with a rake or harrows.

Observing this condition, the probability of seeds falling into voids and a delay in their development is reduced.

The sowing depth of 0.5-1.5 cm is carried out in the soil with a sufficient amount of moisture, or before rain. Before sowing, seeds can be mixed with coarse sand or fine sawdust for convenience and economy of sowing material. Planting patterns are varied - from continuous to ordinary with a distance between plants in rows of 20-30 cm, in a row spacing of 45-70.

Which planting scheme to choose depends on the purpose of growing amaranth and weather and climatic conditions. It is possible to determine the best method and scheme of sowing for each region empirically. With ordinary-row sowing, the seeding rate is 20-40 seeds per running meter. If the seedlings are too frequent, then it is necessary to thin them out.

The optimal distance between plants in a row when growing for grain is 40-50 cm, in a row spacing 50-70 cm.When choosing a layout for amaranth plants, in order to obtain the best yield, a balance should be found between ensuring that each plant has enough living space for development and then at the same time, use the area of the land plot as efficiently as possible.

After sowing, it is necessary to compact the surface to ensure good interaction of the seeds with the soil.
Planting dates for grain: from the 2nd decade of April in the southernmost regions of the country, to mid-May (depending on the weather and climatic characteristics of the region, immediately after the threat of spring frosts when the soil warms up to 10-12 ° C).

With enough moisture and heat, seedlings appear in 5-8 days. You can sow amaranth for animal feed until the end of July, the main thing is the presence of moisture in the soil.

Suitable for amaranth and the seedling method of planting, which is necessary in the more northern regions of the country when growing for grain.

In the industrial cultivation of amaranth, when sowing, it is preferable to use small-seeded precision seeders to prevent thickening of the plantings. But also for sowing amaranth, it is possible to use vegetable, grain-grass and pneumatic - row-crop seeders.

An approximate scheme and method of sowing manually on a personal plot are shown in this video:

The choice of a variety, taking into account the goals and climatic characteristics

Before planting amaranth, it is necessary to select a variety suitable for a given climatic zone that meets the tasks set. There are 3 most common directions in agriculture in the cultivation of amaranth:

Obtaining grain for food purposes and for oil.
Obtaining green mass for feed for farm animals.
Getting greens as food.

At the moment, amaranth often grows as an ornamental plant in household plots.

Each variety of amaranth, to one degree or another, corresponds to one of the listed categories, or several at once.

Plant amaranth (Latin Amaranthus), or width belongs to the genus of the Amaranth family, which is widespread in the wild in America, India and China. In the countries of East Asia, tricolor amaranth is grown as a vegetable crop, although the same species, like tailed and sad amaranths, is often used as ornamental plants. Eight thousand years ago, amaranth became, along with corn and beans, one of the main grain crops of the peoples who inhabited the territory of modern Mexico and South America - the Incas and Aztecs.

Some types of amaranth, for example, tailed amaranth and paniculate amaranth, are cultivated as crops to this day, but there are species that are considered weeds - for example, bluish amaranth grass or upside-down amaranth. In East Asian countries, tricolor amaranth is grown as a vegetable crop, although the same species, like tailed and sad amaranths, is often used as ornamental plants. The amaranth flower was brought to Europe by Spanish sailors as a decoration for flower beds, and from the 18th century it began to be grown as a fodder or cereal crop. Translated from Greek, the word "amaranth" means "unfading flower." In our country, amaranth is most often called scythe, and also velvet, aksamitnik, cockscomb or cat's tail.

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Planting and caring for amaranth

Landing: sowing seeds in the ground - at the end of April or in May; sowing seeds for seedlings - at the end of March, transplanting seedlings into the ground - from mid to late May.
Bloom: from June to frost.
Lighting: bright sunlight.
The soil: light, nutritious, lime-containing, not too moist and not acidic soils.
Watering: during the period of seedlings rooting in the ground - permanent, then watering will be needed only in a prolonged drought.
Top dressing: mullein solution 3-4 times per season, preferably in the evening.
Reproduction: seed.
Pests: aphids, weevil larvae.
Diseases: root and gray rot, powdery mildew, rust.
Properties: all parts of amaranth are edible and healthy.

Amaranth plant - description

The stems of amaranth can be simple or branched, the leaves are alternate, whole, lanceolate, ovate or rhomboid, the base of the leaf plate is elongated into a petiole, the top of the leaf has a notch and a slight sharpening. Axillary flowers of golden, red, green or purple color are collected in bunches, apical ones - in spike-shaped panicles. The amaranth fruit is a box with small seeds. The color of the plant is green, purple, violet, and sometimes all of these colors are combined in one plant. The height of amaranth, depending on the species, can be as little as 30 cm, and can even reach three meters. In our climate, amaranth is grown as an annual.

Growing amaranth from seeds

Sowing amaranth

Growing amaranth is not difficult. In areas where by the end of April the soil at a depth of 4-5 cm has already been warmed by the sun to 10 ºC, you can sow amaranth seeds directly into the ground, but before that you should prepare a site - add 30 g of a mineral mixture for each square meter for digging or complex fertilizers in accordance with the instructions. However, when embedding fertilizers in the soil, observe the measure: amaranth tends to turn nitrogen fertilizers into nitrates hazardous to health, so do not get carried away with the nitrogen component. If you sow amaranth on time, it will grow quickly and you will not have to fight weeds.

So, at the end of April, the seeds are planted one at a time in grooves in wet soil and embedded to a depth of 1.5 cm.For convenience, you can mix small seeds with sand or sawdust in a ratio of 1:20 - it is easier to sow. A distance of 45 cm is observed between the rows, there should be about 7-10 cm between the specimens, so experienced flower growers prefer to suffer with sowing, but do not mix the seeds with sand, but lay them out one by one. After 8-10 days, you will see seedlings, which, if necessary, need to be thinned out, and the soil between them should be loosened. If you planted amaranth later, in May, you will also have to fight with weeds.

When the amaranth reaches a height of 20 cm, apply nitrogen fertilization, but the nitrogen concentration should be half as much as the manufacturer recommends. Whether you grow a vegetable or decorative amaranth, it does not matter - it will fully ripen in three or three and a half months from the moment of sowing.

Seedling amaranth

The conditions for growing amaranth in seedlings will not make it difficult for you. For seedlings, amaranth seeds are sown at the end of March. As a container for seedlings, plastic containers or ordinary pots up to 10 cm high are suitable. Seeds are covered in moist soil by 1.5-2 cm, then the pots are placed in a warm, bright place. Crops are irrigated with a sprayer, the optimum temperature for sprouting is about 22 ºC.

If all these conditions are met, seedlings will appear in less than a week. When the amaranths sprout, thin them out, getting rid of weak shoots, and when three leaves appear on the shoots, plant them in personal pots with a diameter of 12 cm.

Planting amaranth

When to plant amaranth

When the soil in the garden warms up well and the threat of recurrent frosts has passed, the seedlings can be planted in open ground. This is usually done in mid or late May. The amaranth site should be well-lit and drained, the soil should be light and nutritious, with a sufficient amount of lime. By and large, amaranth is completely unpretentious, but what it does not tolerate is low temperatures and too much moisture in the soil. Before planting amaranth in open ground, the soil on the site should be dug up with nitroammophos at the rate of 20 g per 1 m².

How to plant amaranth

Planting amaranth, depending on the species and variety, is carried out at a distance of 10 to 30 cm between specimens, and an interval of 45 to 70 cm is observed between the rows.Until the seedlings take root and start growing, they need regular watering. And be prepared to cover the area with amaranths if the cold weather suddenly returns.

Amaranth care

How to grow amaranth

Actually, caring for amaranth is needed only until the plant grows, but for the first month amaranth seedlings develop very slowly, therefore they need watering, weeding and loosening of the soil. But then amaranth accelerates its development, and there is no more room for weeds on the site. Sometimes a specimen of amaranth can grow by seven centimeters per day!

Regular watering is also important for amaranth only in the first month in the open field, then the root of the plant penetrates deep into the soil, and there is no need for watering, unless the dry period of summer comes without rains - then the amaranth will need to be watered like any other plant.

It is advisable to feed amaranth 3-4 times per season, the best fertilizers for it are a mullein solution in a ratio of 1: 5 and ash (200 g per 10 liters of water). It is best to carry out top dressing in the early morning after watering the site.

Pests and diseases of amaranth

Planting and caring for amaranth will not give you any trouble. In addition, amaranth is very resistant to pests and diseases. However, sometimes it is also affected by aphids or weevils. Weevil larvae develop in plant stems, retarding their growth. Aphids are capable of harming amaranth only at the beginning of its life, and, as a rule, this happens in a damp rainy summer. Aphids are exterminated by treating amaranth with actellik or fufanon (karbofos). The same drugs give good results in the fight against weevils.

If too much moisture accumulates in the soil, amaranth can get sick with fungal diseases, which are treated by spraying plants with fungicides - colloidal sulfur, copper sulfate, copper oxychloride and other similar preparations.

Amaranth after flowering

How and when to collect amaranth seeds

If you want to harvest amaranth seeds, select some of the toughest plants, and do not cut the leaves from them. As soon as the lower leaves on the amaranth turn red, dry out and fall off, and the stem of the plant turns whitish, choose a dry, fine day, cut the inflorescences from the selected specimens, starting from the bottom of the stem, and place them to dry in a well-ventilated dry room. After a couple of weeks, when rubbing the dried panicles with your hands, the mature seeds easily spill out of the boxes, then you just have to sift them through a fine sieve and put them in a box or paper bag for storage. Amaranth seeds do not lose their germination for about five years.

Amaranth in winter

Amaranth in our latitudes does not tolerate even warm winters, therefore it is grown as an annual plant. At the end of the growing season, amaranth plant residues are collected and disposed of. If you are sure that your amaranths are not infected with pests or diseases, place their tops in a compost pit - it will make a good fertilizer. The ground part of amaranth is also used as feed for animals, for example, pigs and poultry, since, in addition to high-quality protein, it contains protein, a lot of carotene and vitamin C.

Types and varieties of amaranth

Amaranth paniculata, or crimson (Amaranthus paniculatus = Amaranthus cruentus)

Most often it is used for decorating flower beds, drawing up bouquets, including winter ones. It is an annual plant with a height of 75 to 150 cm with elongated ovate red-brown leaves with a sharp elongated top. Small red flowers are collected in erect inflorescences. This species blooms in June and blooms until cold weather. In culture since 1798, it has several forms: nana - a short form up to 50 cm high, cruentus - with drooping inflorescences of red flowers, sanguineus - vertical inflorescences with hanging ends. Most often, undersized varieties are used in floriculture, 25-40 cm high:

Rother Dam and Rother Paris- varieties with a height of 50-60 cm with dark red foliage and maroon flowers;
Zwergfakel and Grunefakel- varieties up to 35 cm high with purple and dark green inflorescences, respectively;
Hot Biscuit- the highest variety, reaching a meter in height, with green foliage and red-orange inflorescences.

Amaranth dark, or sad (Amaranthus hypochondriacus)

A small-branched species up to one and a half meters high with oblong-lanceolate pointed leaves of purple or purple-green color and vertical spike-shaped panicles of inflorescences of various colors, but most often - dark red. In culture since 1548. There is a blood-red form - sanguineus, with hanging inflorescences. Varieties:

Pigmy Torch- amaranth 60 cm in height, the dark purple inflorescences of which become chestnut in autumn, and the leaves are multi-colored;
Green Tamb- a variety up to 40 cm high, painted in different tones of an emerald hue and is often used by phytodesigners when drawing up dry bouquets.

Amaranth tricolor (Amaranthus tricolor)

Ornamental-deciduous plant with a height of 70 cm to one and a half meters with erect stems forming a pyramidal bush. Leaves of amaranth tricolor are elongated, ovoid or narrow, sometimes wavy, colored in combinations of yellow, green and red - young leaves are unusually bright and beautiful. It blooms from June to frost, has several varieties: willow (salicifolius) with narrow, bronze-green wavy leaves up to 20 cm long and half a centimeter wide; red-green (rubriviridis) with ruby-purple leaves in green spots; red (ruber) with blood-red leaves and bright (splendens), which has dark green leaves with brown spots. Varieties:

amaranth Illumination,- a powerful plant up to 70 cm high with impressive large leaves. Young leaves are red-yellow, and those that are older are red-orange, the lower leaves are bronze in color;
Aurora- this variety has wavy apical leaves of a golden yellow hue;
Earle Splender- the apical leaves are of a bright crimson hue, the lower ones are almost black with a purple-green tint.

Amaranth caudatus (Amaranthus caudatus)

In nature, it grows in tropical Africa, Asia and South America. Stems are powerful, erect, up to one and a half meters high. The leaves are large, oblong-ovoid, green or purple-green in color. Small dark red, yellowish-green or crimson flowers are collected in spherical glomeruli, which, in turn, are arranged in hanging long paniculate inflorescences. This species blooms from June to October, cultivated since 1568. It has several forms: white-colored - with greenish-white flowers; green - this form with pale green inflorescences is in great demand among florists; bead-shaped - flowers of this form are collected in a whorl and look like long beads strung on a stem. Varieties:

Rothschwanz- with red inflorescences;
Grunschwantz- with light green inflorescences.

Both varieties reach a height of 75 cm and are powerful shrubs that occupy a large area.

Amaranth - harm and benefit

Scientists consider amaranth a plant of the 21st century, capable of feeding and curing all of humanity. Perhaps this is an exaggeration, but there is certainly some truth in this statement. All parts of amaranth are edible, nutritious and healthy, but the most valuable product is amaranth seeds. The benefit of amaranth is that it contains a whole complex of fatty acids necessary for a person - stearic, oleic, linoleic and palmitic, and this property of amaranth allows it to be used in the production of dietary products. In addition, amaranth contains squalene, vitamins B, C, D, P and E, rutin, carotene, steroids, bile and pantothenic acid and many other substances necessary for human health.

Amaranth leaves are not inferior to spinach in terms of the amount of nutrients they contain, but they significantly surpass it in the amount of protein. Amaranth protein contains the most important amino acid lysine for humans in almost the same amount as soy, but protein from amaranth is absorbed much easier than protein from soy, wheat or corn. The Japanese compare amaranth greens with squid meat and believe that daily consumption of amaranth in food restores vitality and rejuvenates the human body.

You can eat the leaves of not only vegetable amaranth - decorative species and varieties of plants are also rich in vitamins, protein and microelements. However, it is better not to eat the seeds of ornamental plants. By the way, it is easy to distinguish medicinal amaranth from decorative amaranth by seeds - in medicinal and vegetable species, the seeds are lighter than the seeds of decorative varieties.

Amaranth oil is the most valuable vegetable oil, which is twice as great as sea buckthorn oil. Creams and masks based on amaranth oil rejuvenate the skin, increase its tone and provide antibacterial protection.

Sprouted amaranth seeds, in terms of their composition, have the same value as mother's milk. They are often used not only in medicine, but also in cooking.

The beneficial properties of amaranth are used to treat obesity, atherosclerosis, neuroses, and dysbiosis with tea from its leaves. Amaranth greens and grains effectively heal the liver and kidneys, treat adenoma, cardiovascular diseases, as well as inflammatory processes of the urinary system. The properties of amaranth, with its constant use in food, help to cope even with malignant tumors, and also strengthen human immunity.

By adding amaranth leaves to summer salads, you extend your lifespan and improve your health. Amaranth seed flour added to wheat flour improves the taste of baked goods and slows down the hardening process. Toasted amaranth seeds are very tasty and resemble nuts, it is good to sprinkle them on buns and bread the meat. Added to a three-liter jar, a single amaranth leaf will keep your cucumbers crisp and firm until spring. We offer you several recipes for amaranth and we hope you enjoy them.

Dessert with amaranth and nuts. Heat honey and butter over low heat, stirring occasionally, add any nuts and amaranth seeds, mix, pour into a mold, and after cooling, cut into pieces.

Salad. 200 g of amaranth leaves, 50 g of wild garlic leaves or young winter garlic, 200 g of nettle leaves scald with boiling water, cut, salt and season with vegetable oil or sour cream.

Sauce. Bring 300 g of cream to a boil, put 200 g of chopped amaranth leaves, 100 g of grated soft cheese in them, pepper a little and heat, stirring occasionally, over a fire until the cheese is completely melted.

Cypriot soup. Soak a glass of chickpeas overnight. Cook it until tender. Save the chopped onions and carrots, add them to the chickpea broth and beat with a blender. Mix half a cup of amaranth seeds separately boiled for 25 minutes with chickpea vegetable puree, add canned or frozen sweet corn, pepper, pour in 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and bring to a boil.

Some readers ask if we know anything about the dangers of amaranth. The answer is: we do not know.

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Amaranthus L., 1753

Amaranth or amaranth(lat. Amaránthus) Is a genus of annual herbaceous plants of the Amaranth family. 55-65 species are known, growing mainly in temperate and warm areas, for example: Common squid (A. retroflexus)- a weed plant, mainly of row crops; Lobovid shchiritsa (A. blitum)- a weed of vegetable gardens and orchards; White squid (A. albus) grows on roadsides and embankments. Amaranth flowering period is 8 weeks. Inflorescences are long, red. It is characterized by medicinal and vitamin properties.

Amaranth is one of the oldest cultivated plants... It has been grown for 6 thousand years. Besides corn, beans, and potatoes, it was the mainstay of the diet of the ancient Incas and Aztecs. Taxes were paid with amaranth seeds, and figurines made of amaranth flour were sacrificed to the gods. The latter, unfortunately, was not to the liking of the Europeans ... and they banned the cultivation of this plant for many years.

Shchiritsa is a promising protein crop: yield is 60 c / ha; has a unique protein composition - it contains up to 35% of essential amino acids; lysine in amaranth 3-3.5 times more than in wheat protein; the fatty acid composition is close to that of sea buckthorn oil; shrimp is rich in vitamins; among the mineral substances of amaranth, such important trace elements as silicon, zinc, copper, magnesium should be distinguished.

Biological description of amaranth

Currently Amaranth includes three recognized subgenuses and 70 species, although the number of species is highly questionable due to hybridization and species concept.

Amaranth can have both simple and branched stems. The leaves are alternate, whole (rhomboid, lanceolate or ovate), at the base they stretch into a petiole. The top of the leaf has a notch and a small tip.

Axillary flowers are arranged in bunches; the apical ones form dense spike-shaped panicles. There are monoecious and dioecious amaranth species.

The fruit is a capsule. One plant can produce up to half a million small grains (1,000 pieces weigh only 0.4 g).

The whole plant, as a rule, is colored green, less often purple-red.

Where does amaranth grow (distribution and ecology)

The homeland of amaranth is South America, where the maximum number of its species, varieties and forms grows. From there he went to North America, India and other places. The secondary centers for the formation of amaranth were China and North India, where to this day many of its species grow.

The Spaniards brought amaranth seeds to Europe, where at first it was cultivated exclusively as an ornamental plant, and from the 18th century they began to cultivate it as a cereal and fodder crop; unfortunately, at the same time, different types of amaranth were often cross-pollinated, lost valuable properties and, as a result, littered the fertile lands.

Amaranth came to Russia in the second half of the 19th century and was immediately classified as malicious weeds.

What is included in amaranth (shiritsa)

Amaranth seeds, besides other important components for humans, contain phytosterols and squalene. The latter, by the way, actively suppresses the growth of cancer cells, stimulates the body's immunity. Phytosterols significantly reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol in the blood.

V composition of amaranth seeds includes on average 15-17% protein, 5-8% fats, 3.7-5.7% fiber, vitamins B1, B2, E, D, phosphorus, calcium, rutin, phospholipids, bile acids, a large number of amino acids (especially lysine). The lysine content in amaranth protein is twice that of wheat and three times that of sorghum and corn. As you know, lysine is an important and irreplaceable amino acid, since it is not synthesized in the tissues of the body, but is supplied only with food.

Amaranth seeds contain polyunsaturated fatty acids: palmitic, linolenic, stearic, linoleic, arachidonic.

Another important property of amaranth is the content of easily digestible dietary fiber (pectin and fiber). In terms of dietary fiber content, amaranth surpasses wheat by 3 times, rice, corn and oats by 1.5 times.

Amaranth seeds, unlike cereal seeds, are very low in glutelins. This is of great importance for people with hypersensitivity to grain products due to a deficiency of enzymes that hydrolyze glutelin.

Pharmacological properties of amaranth

Although officially amaranth is not included in the pharmacopoeia of Russia, there are many examples of its successful use in traditional medicine in various countries as a hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antibacterial agent, for the treatment of cancer and syphilis.

When to collect and how to store amaranth (shiritsa)

There are many methods for correct preparation, drying and storage of amaranth for later use. The basic method is to routinely cut and spread the plants in a thin layer in a well ventilated room. It is periodically necessary to turn the amaranth over so that it does not become moldy.

You can dry the amaranth plant in another way. To do this, we tie the cut stems into bunches and hang them. This is very convenient and you can enjoy a wonderful amorant scent. You can check the "readiness" of amaranth by rubbing it with your palms. If it crumbles, it is already ready for storage.

Store the prepared amaranth raw materials in a dark and well-ventilated room, preferably in a suspended state. If you want to keep the plant fresh, just wash the bunches, put them in suitable bags and safely put them in the freezer.

For what diseases amaranth is used

The amaranth plant has long and very successfully been used in folk medicine for the treatment of diseases such as diabetes, neurosis, obesity, vitamin deficiency, as well as for various disorders of kidney function. Amaranth is very useful for strengthening and restoring health in people during periods after various operations.

Amaranth is successfully used to treat a variety of inflammatory processes. genitourinary systems s in men and women, with hemorrhoids. Amaranth oil perfectly helps with anemia, severe loss of strength, skin diseases, stomach ulcers and duodenum, burns, stomatitis and even with atherosclerosis.

Today, a large number of medicines are produced containing amaranth oil, which help to reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the blood, help the body with radioactive irradiation, stimulate the resorption of malignant tumors.

The use of amaranth in traditional and folk medicine (recipes)

How to use amaranth? Now we will consider in detail some recipes for decoctions and other remedies from amaranth.

In folk medicine amaranth is used in a wide variety of dosage forms, which can be easily prepared at home:

To fight with inflammation of the oral mucosa the mouth is simply rinsed with amaranth juice. To do this, it is diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 5.

Tincture for enuresis... Take 1 tablespoon of chopped panicles with amaranth seeds and pour 1 cup boiling water over it. Place in a water bath for 20 minutes. Then let cool and the drink will be ready! It is taken according to the following scheme: 1 teaspoon is diluted in a quarter of a glass of water, consumed half an hour before meals 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.

When treating inflammation of the genitourinary system tincture is used. To do this, take 3 tablespoons of crushed amaranth leaves and pour 1 liter of boiling water (80 0 C). You need to infuse the drink for about 6 hours. Drink 1 time a day, 1 glass before bedtime.

Use amaranth and to rejuvenate the body... For this, a whole collection of herbs is prepared. Take in equal parts amaranth, St. John's wort, chamomile, birch buds. Mix everything and put 2 tablespoons of the mixture in a jar, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water. Infuse the drink for about 3 hours. Strain and drink. Take 1 glass in the morning and at bedtime. For taste, add 1 teaspoon of honey.

To cook amaranth decoction very simple. Take 15 g of chopped roots and cover with a glass of boiling water. Put the brew in a water bath for half an hour. Consume 1/3 cup drink 3 times daily before meals.

You can take a tincture of fresh amaranth. To do this, pour 1 tablespoon of chopped leaves with a glass of boiling water. Leave it on for 30 minutes. After that, strain and drink with honey 3 times a day. This is a good remedy for improve stomach function.

You can even get amaranth juice... Rinse the plant thoroughly in water. Then chop it up and run it through a juicer. Drink according to the following scheme: mix the juice in an equal volume with cream and take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day.

Amaranth oil is very well absorbed. It is obtained by cold pressing from plant seeds. Sometimes stems and leaves are used. Amaranth oil is rich in a substance like squalene. This is an important element that helps fight tumors... It stimulates the body's immune system. Amaranth oil can be used with any medicine. It tastes like a nut, so it is often used in cooking as well. The oil contains vitamin E, carotenoids, amino acids, squalene. It is effective in healing wounds and can be used with cholecystitis, hepatitis, gastritis, colitis and stomach ulcers... Amaranth oil helps to eliminate inflammation and reduce the likelihood of blood clots and atherosclerotic plaques.

At dermatitis use amaranth oil compresses. It also helps with psoriasis, herpes, trophic ulcers and dry eczema... It is also used for anemia, because the oil contains a large amount of lysine, copper and iron. At diabetes and obesity use amaranth oil to normalize metabolic processes and regulate glucose levels.

For asthenic conditions, with anemia, after abdominal operations, with benign and malignant tumors, chronic cystitis and pyelonephritis, exacerbations of hemorrhoids, take 1/3 to 1/2 glass of amaranth infusion 3-4 times a day 20 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is 3 weeks, then a break for 7 days. The infusion is prepared as follows: 3 full tablespoons of dry crushed amaranth leaves are poured with a liter of boiling water, insisted in the heat for 3-4 hours, then they are filtered.

At adolescent enuresis, inflammatory processes of the genitourinary system, senile weakness, low blood pressure, underweight amaranth tincture will be useful: put dry crushed leaves and flowering tops of amaranth into a jar by 2/3 and fill to the top with vodka. Leave to infuse in a warm, dark place for 2 weeks, then filter. Take 1 teaspoon and a quarter cup of boiled water 3-4 times a day 15-20 minutes before meals.

Recently, amaranth leaves, juice and oil are increasingly used for cosmetic purposes. Thanks to the unique biologically active substances included in its composition, it in various cosmetic forms has an effective healing, protective and rejuvenating effect on the skin, nails and hair.

Lotions:

fresh juice is used as a lotion for the skin of the face and neck.

infusion lotion: 1 tablespoon of dried herbs (or 2-3 fresh leaves) is poured with a glass of boiling water, insisted for an hour and a half, filtered. Wipe your face and neck 3-4 times a day.

Compresses:

for the skin around the eyes: crushed amaranth greens are applied to the eyelids of closed eyes and the area around them, covered with wet tampons. After 15 minutes, remove and rinse the eyes with warm water. Repeat the procedure 2 times a week until a pronounced effect is achieved.

for the skin of the chest and neck: pounded greens are added to warm milk to the consistency of gruel. Apply in an equal layer on a napkin and apply to the neck and chest for 15-20 minutes. Wash off with warm water.

Masks:

for all skin types: 2 tbsp. l. juice mixed with 2 tbsp. l. sour cream and apply a thin layer on the skin of the neck and face for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse with warm water.

for oily skin: chopped greens are mixed with finely ground oatmeal. The mixture in the form of a mask is applied to the skin for 15-20 minutes, washed off with warm water. After that, it is applied to the face for 5 minutes. a damp, cold napkin dipped in amaranth infusion.

for dry skin: 2 tbsp. l. amaranth juice, raw yolk of one egg, 1 tsp. a spoonful of low-fat sour cream, 3-4 drops of amaranth oil. The ingredients are mixed and the mask is applied to the skin. In 20 minutes. washed off with warm water.

Hair care:

rinsing hair with a decoction of amaranth has conditioning effect... How to prepare the broth: 3 tablespoons of dry crushed leaves or 6-8 fresh leaves are poured with boiling water in a 1 liter thermos. Withstand a day. Dilute with warm water in a ratio of 1 to 1. Use 1-2 times a week.

oil or oil extract to strengthen hair in case of baldness - rubbed into the scalp every night before going to bed. The treatment course is from 1 to 6 months.

bath infusion: 300-400 g of leaves are placed in 2 liters of boiling water, boiled in a tightly sealed container for 15 minutes, cooled, filtered; the resulting broth is mixed with water in a bath. The time for taking an amaranth bath is 20 minutes.

Good to know...

Amaranth products are able to reduce the toxic effect of radiation exposure to the body.
Experts from the UN Food Commission called amaranth "a culture of the 21st century with great prospects for use."

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