Loves-Lies-Bleeding (aka. Peruvian Amaranth; Amaranthus caudatus) is an ancient grain that is not only nutritious but highly ornamental and exotic looking in the garden. It also makes a gorgeous cut flower, with popularity rising in floral design.
Many parts of this plant are edible, especially the seeds and leaves, and used as a staple food source in the Andes of South America, known there by the name kiwicha.
One cup of cooked Amaranth grain is about 251 calories and is an excellent source of protein, dietary fiber and minerals. An added benefit: Amaranth doesn’t contain gluten!
Although grain amaranth is an emerging crop, much of trade is dominated by the Mexican species of Amaranth. However, Peruvian Amaranth presents some valuable properties, such as higher cold resistance and content of unsaturated fatty acids.
Before Spanish conquest, it is thought that Amaranth grain, such as Love-Lives-Bleeding, provided up to 80% of the energy consumption for Andean peoples.
In gastrointestinal digestion studies, it was shown that several of the peptides released upon digestion of Love-Lies-Bleeding exhibited multifunctional properties that could substantiate their use as a functional food for chronic disease and cardiovascular health.
The deep red color of the flowers, which contains Amaranth pigments known as betalains, is used as a deep red dye.
In the Victorian language of flowers, Love-Lies-Bleeding symbolized hopeless love or hopelessness.
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*This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.