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One of the most important qualities of buckwheat is its high levels of phytonutrients, particularly flavonoids. These important compounds extend the functionality of vitamin-C and act as antioxidants within the body, which seek out and eliminate dangerous free radicals, the chemical byproduct of cell metabolism that is known to cause diseases like cancer and heart disease.
Rutin, one of the most important flavonoids found in buckwheat, actually lowers the amount of LDL cholesterol in the blood, and keep platelets from clotting, which can lead to artherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke. Rutin also increases the level of HDL (good) cholesterol, which further reduces chances of cardiovascular disease.Rutin is actually commonly extracted from the leaves of buckwheat and added to blood pressure medicines because it acts as a vasodilator that increases blood flow and, again, reduces the chances of various types of heart disease or stroke because blood does not clot as easily in open, freely flowing blood vessels and arteries.
Diabetes Management
People with diabetes that are unfamiliar with buckwheat now have another tool in the complex and constant management of that disease. The high level of dietary fiber in buckwheat is certainly one of the reasons why it helps diabetic patients, because it significantly lowers the amount of blood sugar, and does so very quickly as well, sometimes in as little as 1-2 hours. Buckwheat was shown to have a stronger effect on this than regular wheat flour.
This blood glucose-lowering effect stems from the presence of a compound called chiro-inositol, found in buckwheat. This is actually a vital secondary messenger for insulin signal transduction. Basically, chiro-inositol mimics the appearance and chemical functionality of insulin and makes them more sensitive to insulin presence. This has proven very beneficial for patients who have Type 1 Diabetes, and further research is being done on other types of diabetes. Furthermore, buckwheat, along with other types of whole grains are great sources of magnesium, which is an essential part of nearly 300 enzymes in the human body, including those that affect the body’s use of glucose and insulin formation and release. High levels of magnesium have been associated with a reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes, so buckwheat has both major types covered.