Teff (Amharic: ṭēff), was one of the earliest domesticated plants believed to have originated in Ethiopia and Eritrea between 4000 and 1000 BC. It is a small grain used in a variety of different dishes. One of the more famous of these is Injera – a sourdough flatbread which tastes fantastic homemade. This emerging ‘super food’ grain seems to have been a well-hidden secret in London, but in Hollywood (embraced by the likes Gwyneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham) it’s being called “the new quinoa”. Time to divulge some of its known health benefits as well as give you some tips on how to incorporate it into your diet. Here at Keep Fit Kingdom, we love to keep our readers up to date with the latest health foods so without further ado, read on for our Top 5 Health Benefits of Teff!
1. Aids weight loss
Teff contains a high amount of the essential trace element copper; helping your body to recover from intense workouts by providing you with lots of energy. One cooked cup of Teff contains around 255 calories but it is incredibly filling too due to its high fibre content and so this can help you lose weight if you continue to eat healthily alongside it.
2. Full of nutrients
The amount of calcium in Teff is astonishing; one cooked cup contains 123mg! It’s also low in saturated fat and sodium which is great for those looking to maintain a diet that’s heart-healthy. Teff also contains Vitamin C which is more commonly found in fruit and vegetables; this is important for boosting the immune system and is known to be one of most effective of nutrients.
3. It tastes amazing!
Teff has an unusual but wonderfully nutty flavour. Depending on how you cook it and what ingredients you add to it. Teff comes in three main varieties with somewhat different flavours; dark brown (sergegna), red (geyy) and a white one (nech) all of which taste superb. It’s not an overpowering taste, which means you could even eat it raw and enjoy it.
4. Versatile
This grain can be steamed, boiled, baked or eaten whole; which is why it’s now one of our new favourite cooking ingredients! You can also buy it in flour form so it can easily be used in baking too. Supermarkets are beginning to sell Teff products, eg. Waitrose sells Teff bread which has an amazing, full-bodied taste making it a great alternative to normal bread.
5. Gluten-free
This grain is ideal for those with celiac disease or those who want to incorporate more gluten-free products into their diet. Eliminating gluten from your diet can be quite a positive exercise as it results in a diet where, by virtue of healthier foods being introduced, less processed foods are consumed. Check out our recent article on the Top 5 Benefits of a Gluten-Free Diet.
If you’ve read this article and are keen to put some Teff into your diet, check out your one-stop teff specialist Lielit for a variety of tasty recipes, ranging from healthy almond shortbread to oat rolls and more. Whichever way you decide to eat Teff, one thing is assured – your tastebuds will be in for a super tasty, nutritious, guilt-free treat! What are your experiences with Teff? Let us know below or @keepfitkingdom !
