Couscous

I first tasted couscous when I was at St. Petersburg and I fell in love with this grain. Couscous is a great grain for the weight watchers. It has taste, texture and is a very diet friendly dish. Couscous can be used just as rice, served with savoury stew. You can make upma, porridge and even dessert with couscous. This humble little dish has firm roots all over the world.

 One cup of couscous has 176 calories. It is much low in calories as compared to a cup of rice. It is a better low calorie grain substitute. It will give you the same energy, but lesser calories.

Most grains are low in proteins, but a cup of couscous adds 6g of protein to your diet, or 12 per cent of the 50g daily requirement.

A cup of this cereal has 43 mcg of selenium, or 61 per cent of the 70mcg FDA daily value. Selenium is an antioxidant which protects blood vessels from atherosclerosis, a condition that causes the building up of plaque and narrowing of the arteries.

Couscous has also got potassium which aids in regulating blood pressure. Potassium assists with muscle contractions and controls the fluid balance in the body. One cup of couscous provides 91 mg of potassium or 39 per cent of FDA daily requirement. The body requires potassium to prevent arrhythmia or irregularities of the heartbeat. But those who have gluten allergy should refer to the doctor before eating couscous.