Teff presents a unique opportunity for athletes and active individuals to discover a new competitive edge – not only for athletic performance but also, and importantly, for overall health and wellbeing.

In recent years, teff has transitioned from a local treasure to gaining international recognition as a nutritional powerhouse. It is often referred to as a superior fuel for active individuals and has been hailed as the “runner’s super food”, given the winning tradition of Ethiopian marathoners.

While teff has been fuelling elite athletes and everyday warriors in its native East Africa for millennia, it’s now making its mark in the Western world as the must-have grain for performance nutrition.

Teff – The ancient grain that outperforms other staples. Teff stands out as a nutritional all-star when compared to other popular grains like wheat, rice, and quinoa.

One of the most remarkable features of teff is its amino acid profile, offering a complete set of essential amino acids, which is rare among plant-based foods. In contrast, grains like wheat and rice lack certain essential amino acids, making them incomplete protein sources.

The mineral content of teff is another area where it outshines its counterparts. Teff is an excellent source of calcium, providing approximately 123 mg per cup, which is significantly more than wheat (~22 mg per cup) and brown rice (~20 mg per cup). It’s also rich in iron, with around 5 mg per cup, compared to quinoa’s 2.8 mg and wheat’s 1.4 mg per cup. Additionally, teff is low in phytic acid, meaning that the iron from teff is more easily absorbed by the body. Phytic acid is an inhibitor of iron absorption, meaning that the iron in teff can be better absorbed than the iron in other plant-based sources.

Teff also boasts an impressive fibre content, which contributes to better gut and cardiovascular health, as well as helping to manage blood sugar levels. While a cup of cooked quinoa contains about 5 grams of dietary fibre, teff provides around 7–8 grams per cup. In comparison, white rice falls far short, offering only about 0.6 grams of fibre per cup.

Adding teff to your diet offers a natural and effective way of increasing your “plant points”, which is beneficial for both your health and the health of the planet.

Why increasing your “Plant Points” with teff is beneficial: Nutrient Diversity: A varied intake of plant-based foods ensures that you’re getting a broad spectrum of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals essential for optimal health and performance.

So don’t wait. Try Teff for yourself and let us know how it has helped you on your health journey.

Article courtesy of Teffie.me