What is Teff Seed? How to use? 10 Benefits

by Abbas Jahangir · September 5, 2021

Nutrient-rich Teff Seed: You Must Meet Urgently! One of the most popular foods of the last period is teff seeds. This seed is on everyone’s lips, from Hollywood stars to social media influencers. So what makes this tiny seed, whose homeland is Northern Ethiopia, so famous? What are the benefits of teff seed, how should it be used? Here is the seed of teff with all its aspects from A to Z…

What is Teff Seed?

Teff is a type of grain. It is the smallest grain of grain in the world. It is less than one millimeter in diameter.
It is also known by the names taf and khakshir.
Its homeland is Northern Ethiopia.
There are 3 different color variants, white, brown and red. The taste of the white teff seed is similar to chestnut, and the brown one is similar to hazelnut. The red color is rich in iron.
The most used field of teff seed is bread making. In Ethiopia, it is used to make Ethiopian bread. It is also added to cereals.
It has also been used in gluten-free pasta and bread making in recent years.
It has high nutritional value. It is rich in calcium. In addition to calcium, it contains iron, phosphorus, thiamine, aluminum and copper.

Calories and nutritional values of 1 cup of cooked teff seeds:

252 kcal calories
10 grams of protein
6 g of oil
50 g carbohydrates
123mg calcium
7 g fiber
5mg copper
20mg sodium
17 mg of iron
Contains 2 grams of manganese.

How to Use Teff Seed?

You can also adapt quinoa recipes to teff seed.
Teff seed is often used in bread making.
It is used in making cookies, cakes, pasta and biscuits.
It is added to soups as a thickener.
It is added to salads after boiling.
Pilaf can be made.
It is also consumed as a tea.
The most common use of Teff seed is mixed with yogurt and consumed. So how to use teff seed with yogurt? You can consume 1 teaspoon of teff seeds by adding them to 1 bowl of yogurt after boiling.
Finally, we should point out that; The use of teff seeds is not as easy as quinoa. When quinoa is cooked, it becomes grainy and the teff seed sticks. For this reason, it is mostly used for making pastries.

Teff Seed Benefits: 10 Little-Known Properties

1) It is a Protein Store

Teff seeds are very beneficial.
Teff seed is a food richer in protein than other grain types.
1 cup of cooked teff seeds contains 10 grams of protein.
Protein supports the repair and development of cells.
Amino acids in Teff seed support the energy level. It is a good choice for athletes and those who feel exhausted.

2) Strengthens Bones

Teff seed fights against osteoporosis by strengthening the bones thanks to the calcium it contains.
It preserves the skeletal structure.
Calcium prevents the weakening of teeth.
The calcium content of teff seed is almost the same as in milk. If you have a milk allergy, you can choose teff seeds as a source of calcium.

3) Supports Digestive System

From past to present, teff seed has been used to speed up the intestines.
Teff seed has a laxative effect.
100 grams of teff seed contains 8 grams of pulp. Thanks to this feature, it regulates bowel movements and supports the healthy functioning of the digestive system.
It eliminates problems such as constipation and bloating.
It has prebiotic properties. In this way, it improves the intestinal flora.

4) It Has Edema Relief Feature

Teff seed tea helps to relieve edema.
It also helps to lose weight by accelerating fat burning when consumed regularly.

5) Regulates Blood Sugar

Teff seed regulates blood sugar thanks to its high fiber content. It prevents sudden rise and fall of blood sugar.
Teff seed is also rich in manganese. 1 cup of cooked teff seeds provides more than 100 percent of your daily manganese intake. According to researches; Manganese helps improve glucose tolerance.
Thanks to its high nutritional value and its ability to regulate blood sugar, it is a good choice for diabetics.

6) Effective Against Anemia Disease

Teff seed fights against anemia thanks to its iron content.
Anemia patients are recommended to consume teff seeds regularly.
The most important symptoms of iron deficiency are weakness, muscle cramps, headache and dizziness. Teff seed eliminates all of these complaints by eliminating iron deficiency.

7) Protects Heart Health

Teff seed is a very beneficial food for heart health. Thanks to the vitamin B6 it contains, it protects healthy blood vessels.
With its low sodium content, it reduces the risk of heart disease.

8) It Is A Natural Pain Relief

Teff seed is a food rich in phosphorus. 1 cup of cooked teff seeds meets 30 percent of the daily phosphorus intake.
It helps to reduce pain by balancing the phosphorus hormones.
In this regard, teff seed is a good food, especially for people suffering from rheumatic diseases.
It also reduces cramps and muscle pain during menstrual periods. In addition, thanks to its copper content, it increases energy.
Therefore, it can be used with peace of mind by women who feel pain and weakness during their menstrual periods.

9) Suitable for Celiac Patients

Celiac disease is caused by gluten sensitivity. People with celiac disease must consume gluten-free foods throughout their lives. This situation both reduces the number of foods they can consume and can cause people not to get the nutritional values they need.
Teff seed is a healthy food with a very high nutritional value with its vitamins, minerals and components.
It does not contain gluten. Therefore, it can be preferred by celiac patients with peace of mind.
In addition, teff seeds have a low risk of causing allergies. Due to this feature, it is also used by allergic bodies. However, it is still useful to try a small amount in the first place and to follow the reactions of the body. If you are experiencing serious allergic reactions, you should consult your doctor before consuming teff seeds.

10) Protective Against Colon Cancer

Teff seed is a food with high antioxidant value. It is rich in vitamin C. All these properties create a barrier against cancer.
Studies have shown that teff seed is particularly effective against colon cancer.
Studies have shown that teff seed reduces the risk of chronic diseases.
This development proves once again that teff seed is a healthy food.

Teff Seed Harms and Side Effects

Are there any side effects of teff seed? After counting so many benefits, this is the first question that comes to mind.
Teff seed, like other types of seeds, is a very beneficial food for health. However, as with almost any food, it should be consumed in certain amounts.
The generally recommended consumption amount for seeds is 2 teaspoons per day.
As long as Teff seed is consumed in dose, it does not have any known harm or side effects.
However, when teff seed tea is consumed too much, it can disrupt the intestinal order.
There are other substances in teff seed teas, which are sold with the promise of weakening, especially in the market. These substances can cause various harms.
Experts emphasize that teff seed itself should be consumed rather than teff seed tea.
Can Teff seeds be used by breastfeeding mothers? There is not enough information on the use of teff seed in children, pregnant women and nursing mothers. For this reason, it is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers to consume teff seeds without the approval of a docto

Does Teff Seed Weaken?

The most interesting feature of Teff seed is that it helps to lose weight. Then let’s explain how teff seed is used to lose weight.
Since it is a protein-rich food, it keeps you full for a long time. In this respect, it helps to lose weight and provides weight control.
One of the most popular products of the last period is teff seed tea, which is sold with the promise of slimming. However, like other slimming teas, teff seed tea is not recommended by experts. Due to the various active ingredients in its content, it is emphasized that teff seed tea can do more harm than good.