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Valuable antioxidants, good nutrition, and excellent anti-aging properties that help people to avoid lists of health issues:
Even though fibre is an indigestible carbohydrate, it plays a vital role in maintaining your health. Fibre may be beneficial for weight management, because it absorbs water and swells in your digestive tract helping you feel full. It also keeps food moving through your body preventing constipation. Your cholesterol level may even benefit from fibre because it binds to cholesterol in the digestive tract and
• Fibre (at least five grams of fibre per once cup)
• Helps to support a healthy heart
• Helps to decrease risks for diabetes
• Contains little fat and no sugar
• One cup of couscous contains the daily recommended portion of selenium
Cardiovascular
Health: One of the most important components of couscous is selenium,
which will be an integral part of many of the health benefits that are
explained here. Selenium is a trace mineral that is very difficult to find in
food sources, but it is an essential mineral in the human body. A single
serving of couscous has more than 60% of the daily suggested intake of
selenium, making it one of the richest sources of selenium in any food. In
terms of heart health, selenium functions as a powerful antioxidant that
functions mainly in the blood vessels to reduce the build up of plaque and
dangerous LDL cholesterol on artery and vein walls. Thereby, selenium protects
the body from developing dangerous and life-threatening conditions like
atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.
Furthermore, couscous is a decent source of
potassium, which is another essential nutrient, although quite a bit easier to
find in other foods. Potassium is integral in reducing the contraction of blood
vessels, thereby reducing blood pressure and benefiting patients that are at
high risk for various cardiovascular diseases. Potassium also helps in the
normal beating of the heart, and prevents heart arrhythmias and other dangerous
irregularities in the constantly cycle of the heart.
Cancer Prevention: As mentioned earlier, selenium is a very beneficial element of
couscous that has a wide range of health benefits, including a key role in the
metabolic pathways which lead to proliferation or protection of certain
cancers. Recent studies have linked a deficiency in selenium in the body to
increased risk of prostate cancer appearance. Proper amounts of selenium in the
body will result in anti-mestastatic qualities and a general preventative
measure against cancers. Prostate cancer has gotten most of the attenttion thus
far, but ongoing studies linking couscous and selenium to other types of cancer
are ongoing. Selenium is also connected to preventing lung cancer and
carcinogenesis for smokers, when combined with vitamin-E and vitamin-C.
Immune System: The natural antioxidant qualities of selenium help fight against
the proliferation of free radicals and other toxins in the bloodstream and the
body’s systems, but selenium has a second unique way of boosting the immune
system. Selenium actually stimulates the regeneration of vitamin-C and
vitamin-E, both of which play integral parts in the body’s defence mechanisms.
All in all, couscous can be a very powerful addition to your body’s natural defences.
Muscle Building: Selenium is one of the important parts of developing muscle mass
as an essential part of protein metabolism and muscle development. Studies have
shown that selenium deficiency is a major cause of muscle weakness and
degradation, as well as abnormal fatigue or general body weakness. Therefore,
since selenium is such a difficult nutrient to acquire naturally, couscous can
be one of the best sources of improving your muscle mass!
Wound Healing: Healing from wounds and recovering from illness and surgery can
be some of the most difficult times for your body, since it must work on
overdrive to continue normal function, and dedicate energy and nutrients to
massive repair. Couscous can be a big help during this time, since it provides
large amounts of protein. Protein is an integral part of wound healing, as well
as in the metabolism of enzymes that aid in wound repair, both internally and
externally. Couscous is a powerful part of any protein diet, and since more
than 15% of the human body is composed of protein, any food source this rich in
protein is a good thing!
Weight Loss: People on diets are often looking for low-calorie sources of
beneficial food, and grains are often turned to because they are filling,
relatively easy to cook, and not high in calories. In terms of grains like rice
or quinoa, couscous is actually superior, having less than 200 calories in each
cup, which is less than 10% of the daily calorie intake suggested for adults.
This makes couscous very beneficial for those trying to lose weight mainly
through dieting, although the extra protein that couscous provides also makes
it a powerful boost for muscle development, in case you want to reduce obesity
from a different direction. Couscous is
also very low in sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fat, all of which work against
weight loss attempts!
The rich fibre content of couscous also acts
as a deterrent to the secretion of ghrelin, the hormone which generates
feelings of hunger. A reduction in that hormone reduces the chances of
overeating, a major danger to people on diets or attempting to lose weight.
Digestion: A single cup of couscous contains almost 10% of the body’s
suggested fibre intake for the day. Couscous is a fibre-rich food that helps in
the proper digestion of food, and health of the gastrointestinal system. Fibre
helps to add bulk to bowel movements, and it stimulates peristaltic movement,
the smooth-muscle contractions that move food along the digestive tract. Fibre
can also functions as a scraper or cleaner of the arteries, stripping off
harmful LDL cholesterol and helping to eliminate it from the body. Dietary
fibre also helps to stimulate the uptake and retention of HDL cholesterol,
(“good cholesterol”) within the body. Fibre can also reduce the chances of
constipation, which subsequently prevents a number of harmful intestinal
conditions, including stomach and colorectal cancer.
Fluid Levels in the
Body: Our bodies are made of more than 90% water, so the fluid balance
in our organ systems and body cavities is essential to normal function.
Potassium is found in good amounts in couscous, and potassium is essential in
the regulation of fluid and cellular pathways. This fluid balance is very
important in the regulation of blood pressure throughout the body, thereby
reducing the chances of conditions like atherosclerosis, heart attacks and
strokes. Also, this maintains a balance of nutrient uptake and toxin
elimination by helping to regulate the excretory activities of the body.
Body Metabolism: The high protein content of couscous makes it ideal for
regulating the entire body’s metabolism. Protein is one of the most essential
parts of our body, and can be found in our hair, skin, nails, teeth, organs,
muscles, bones, natural chemicals and enzymes. When we have a protein
deficiency, many of our body’s organ systems stop functioning properly, leading
to a long list of potentially lethal health effects. Couscous can alleviate
many concerns for those who don’t want to face complete organ shutdown from
protein deficiencies. It is particularly a favourite for vegetarians and
vegans, since they lose some major sources of protein, meat and dairy products.
Antibacterial
Activity: Somewhat related to couscous’ ability to
boost the immune system is its proven quality as an antibacterial and antiviral
agent. It has been shown as a solid deterrent against the herpes virus, cancer
cells, cold sores and shingles.
A Few Words of Warning: Couscous is mainly composed of carbohydrates, and while they are
not inherently bad for you, there has been a recent trend of moving away from carb-heavy
foods. That being said, the health benefits greatly outweigh the risk of
overeating couscous and increasing your carbohydrate intake to a dangerous
level.
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