Sorghum grain make up one of the major grain crops in the United States, reports Purdue University, and works well as a food for humans and livestock. Because it’s gluten-free, sorghum grains offer a safe alternative to wheat if you follow a gluten-free diet. Consuming sorghum also boosts your nutrient intake, and the grains offer health benefits because of their impressive nutritional profile.
It’s Rich in Calories and Macro-nutrients
Each serving of sorghum — a quarter-cup of dry grains — contains 163 calories. If you follow a 2,000-calorie diet, this provides approximately 8 percent of your calorie intake of for the day. Sorghum is rich in carbohydrates — each serving contains 36 grams of total carbohydrates, including 3 grams of fiber. Because of its fiber content, sorghum promotes digestive health, and — combined with other fiber-rich foods as part of a high-fiber diet — fights cardiovascular disease and aids in blood sugar control. Sorghum also contains 1.6 grams of fat and 5.4 grams of protein per serving.
Benefits Your Metabolism
Consuming sorghum benefits your health, thanks to its magnesium and copper content. Magnesium contributes to healthy bone tissue and regulates your body’s calcium levels, while copper boosts your immune system and promotes red blood development. Both minerals also play a role in your metabolism and help your cells produce usable energy. A serving of sorghum offers 91 milligrams of magnesium and 518 microgrooves of copper. This provides 58 percent of your daily copper requirement, determined by the Institute of Medicine, as well as 22 and 28 percent of the recommended daily magnesium intake for men and women, respectively.
By Louise Tremblay
Source: What Are the Health Benefits of Sorghum? | LIVESTRONG.COM.