Amaranth is rich in various nutrients, including protein, fat, calcium and phosphorus, and its nutritional value is higher than spinach. The iron content of green amaranth is slightly lower than that of spinach, and the iron content of red amaranth is more than 0/times that of spinach/kloc-.As for the vitamin content, spinach is even less than amaranth. If a person eats100g amaranth a day, it can meet the human body's needs for vitamin A; Every 100g of red or green amaranth contains vitamin C 25 ~175 mg, and a person can meet the needs of the human body by eating100 ~150g of amaranth a day. In addition, amaranth also contains vitamin B2 that spinach does not have.
Amaranth leaves are tender and tender, and the stems are thin and soft. It can be fried and made into soup, and it can be slightly scalded and cut into short cold salad, which is refreshing and delicious and easy to digest and absorb. If the amaranth is put into the cold pot first, stir-fry it on the fire without putting oil. Then the raw oil is cooked, and the amaranth is poured in and mixed with garlic, which is more tender and unique in flavor. Amaranth leaves contain high concentration of lysine, which can supplement the defects of grain amino acid composition. It is very suitable for infants and adolescents to eat, and has a good effect on promoting growth and development, especially for infants fed with milk, milk powder and other milk substitutes. If fresh amaranth is washed and chopped to make soup and juice, or chopped amaranth is fried thoroughly and mashed into mud, and given to infants in moderation, it can not only increase rich vitamins and minerals, but also help digestion, dredge stools and clear away heat and toxic materials.
Amaranth also has good medicinal value. Especially red amaranth. According to Li Shizhen's Compendium of Materia Medica in Ming Dynasty, amaranth is sweet, cold and non-toxic, and has the functions of invigorating qi, removing heat, benefiting the large intestine and treating primary dysentery. According to Chinese medicine, amaranth has the functions of detoxifying, clearing away heat, enriching blood, stopping bleeding, resisting bacteria, stopping diarrhea, diminishing inflammation and swelling, and promoting urination. The people have always regarded amaranth as "a good vegetable for enriching blood", so it is also known as "longevity vegetable".
Introduction of folk prescription: 50 ~100g fresh amaranth can be used to pound juice or decoct in water for concentration, and sugar or honey can be added for seasoning to treat sore throat and tonsillitis. Stir-fried yellow grind powder with 50 grams of amaranth and boiled water with appropriate amount of brown sugar can cure postpartum abdominal pain. Red amaranth is often taken in soup, which is effective for elephantiasis and goiter of lower limbs of filariasis. 200 grams of amaranth is decocted in 4 bowls of water to 1 bowl, and taken warm, which has an auxiliary effect on cervical cancer. Mash fresh amaranth leaves with white sugar, apply it to the affected area, and change the dressing 2 ~ 3 times a day, which can cure the furuncle and swelling. Mash fresh amaranth leaves, add proper amount of honey and mix well, and apply it to the affected area of leg ulcer. It can be effective to change the dressing1~ 2 times a day.