**2. Types of pseudocereals**

In the human diet, pseudocereals play a remarkable role to meet the necessities of the population suffering from coeliac diseases as well as other health consequences due to their wide range of nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and nutraceuticals. Here, in this chapter mainly four types of pseudocereals are discussed namely amaranth, buckwheat, chia seeds, and quinoa. These pseudocereals are discussed below:

#### **2.1 Amaranth**

Amaranth is known as one of the New World's oldest crops, originated in Mesoamerica [6]. It is a dicotyledonous pseudocereal that belongs to the family of Amaranthaceae. The word Amaranthus is derived from the Greek word "anthos" (flower) which means everlasting or unwilting. Presently, it is widely cultivated and consumed throughout India, Nepal, Southern, and Eastern Africa, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Central America, and Mexico [6]. The common species of Amaranthus grown for alleviating the dietary beneficiaries for human consumption includes *Amaranthus hypochondriacus, Amaranthus caudatus, Amaranthus cruentus*, and so on.

It is considered a superfood because of its high nutraceutical properties like the high quality of proteins with multiple essential amino acids, a good source of unsaturated fats like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, squalene, tocopherols, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, phytates, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers [7] which is well represented from **Tables 1**–**3**.


#### **Table 1.**

*Macronutrient's content of amaranth, buckwheat, chia seeds, and quinoa [8–11].*

#### *Pseudocereals*


#### **Table 2.**

*Mineral's content of amaranth, buckwheat, chia seeds, and quinoa [8–11].*


#### **Table 3.**

*Vitamin's content of amaranth, buckwheat, chia seeds, and quinoa [8–11].*

### *2.1.1 Health benefits of Amaranth*

#### *2.1.1.1 Rich source of protein*

The grains of amaranth have higher sources of protein especially have a higher content of lysine and tryptophan which is limiting in the conventional cereals like wheat, rice, and maize whereas, it is deficient in leucine. Earlier studies are also stated that the protein content of the amaranth is also relatively rich in sulfur-containing amino acids, which are generally limited in the pulses [12]. Since, it is well known that protein is required for every cell for growth and maintenance of the body, for supporting neurological functions, aids in digestion balances hormones naturally as well as maintaining the immune system [6].

#### *2.1.1.2 Reduces inflammation*

It is well known that inflammation is a normal process of immune response designed to protect the body against infection and injury. If the inflammation process exists in the body; this may be contributed to or be associated with diabetes, cancer, or any other autoimmune diseases [6]. It was also elaborated in earlier studies that consumption of amaranth reduces the inflammation caused by diseases. This is so because extruded amaranth protein hydrolysates prevent inflammation by the activation of bioactive peptides that reduces the expression of several pro-inflammatory markers [6, 13].
