ABSTRACT
With the growing consumer desire for healthy living and nutritional fulfillment, the popularity of pseudocereals in the regular daily diet is increasing at an exponential rate. Pseudocereals represent the non-grass family of plants that are treated as cereals. Pseudocereals, which include buckwheat, amaranth, quinoa, and chia seed, are higher in nutrients than traditional cereals. They contain a plethora of amino acids, proteins, starch, vitamins, fatty acids, carbohydrates, minerals, etc., which help in the prevention of many degenerative as well as chronic diseases. Pseudocereals have a positive influence on a wide range of human diseases, like celiac disease, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, etc. The beneficial roles of pseudocereals help in the control of cholesterol levels in the blood, stimulate the immune system, exhibit antitumor activity, and provide antioxidants to reduce oxidative stress. Furthermore, they are potent at regulating blood glucose and hypertension. Pseudocereals are gluten free, which makes them an essential part of meals for individuals with gluten intolerance or celiac disease. This chapter presents a detailed overview of the nutritional profiles of some important pseudocereals. Furthermore, we describe the significant role of numerous bioactive compounds in pseudocereals in combating and preventing diseases.
