Livid Amaranth

Biological Name:

Livid-Amaranth: Amaranthus lividus

Natural Habitat:

The natural habitat of Livid-Amaranth is likely moist, shaded areas, such as forests and meadows, in temperate regions.

Description:

Livid-amaranth is a type of flowering plant that is commonly found in fields and other grassy areas. It is a member of the Amaranthaceae family which also includes plants such as pigweed and spinach. Livid-amaranth is an annual or perennial plant that produces small green or brown flowers and clusters of seeds. The plant is often used as a cover crop to improve soil health and suppress weeds. It is also known for its ability to tolerate a wide range of growing conditions including wet or dry soils. In some areas livid-amaranth is considered a weed because of its ability to invade cultivated areas and cause allergies and other health problems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is livid amaranth edible?
A: Edibility: The leaves and shoots can be eaten as a vegetable.
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Q: What are the side effects of amaranth?
A: Side-Effects & Allergies of Amaranth Grain For people with intolerance to lysinuric protein, eating amaranth may cause diarrhoea and stomach pain. Moreover, another side effect of lysine increase body’s calcium absorption, and bring free, damage-causing amount of calcium in the body.
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Q: Why was amaranth outlawed?
A: In the 16th century the Spanish conquistadors banned the plant’s cultivation, fearing that the spiritual connection with it would stymie the establishment of Catholicism on the continent. But the Incas and Mayans continued to grow amaranth.
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Q: Can we eat amaranth daily?
A: There are plenty of ways to enjoy amaranth as a part of your daily diet: Boil whole amaranth grain in a 3/1 ratio of water to amaranth to make porridge. Pop dried amaranth like popcorn and eat it as a snack. Put popped amaranth on salads or in soups.
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Q: What happens if you eat raw amaranth?
A: Amaranth cannot and should not be eaten raw. While there are no known toxicities associated with this grain, cooking it is essential. It has anti-nutrients. Most grains contain anti-nutrients like oxalates and phytates which can bind to vitamins and minerals, leaving them unavailable to your body.
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Q: Is red amaranth poisonous to humans?
A: Toxicity. Redroot amaranth is toxic to humans, but cases of poisoning are very rare. Soluble oxalate, which can be found in the entire plant, readily bind with calcium and magnesium in the blood reducing the amounts of these electrolytes in your body.
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Q: Can amaranth be eaten without cooking?
A: We can’t digest raw amaranth. It’s like eating raw rice or raw beans. It’ll pass right through our digestive tract without change. It’s necessary to either cook it or puff it so we can digest it and enjoy the benefits of this amazing superfood.
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Q: Is amaranth poisonous?
A: Avoid eating too much amaranth from agricultural fields. The leaves (like those of spinach, sorrel and many other greens) also contain oxalic acid, which can be poisonous to livestock or to humans with kidney issues of eaten in large amounts.
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Q: Why is amaranth seed banned in the US?
A: Like all azo dyes, Amaranth was, during the middle of the 20th century, made from coal tar; modern synthetics are more likely to be made from petroleum byproducts. Since 1976 Amaranth dye has been banned in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a suspected carcinogen.
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Q: What happens if you eat amaranth everyday?
A: The nutrients in amaranth can offer significant health benefits as a part of a healthy diet. It’s a source of vitamin C, which is vital to the body’s healing process because it helps process iron, form blood vessels, repair muscle tissue, and maintain collagen.
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Q: Why did the Spanish ban amaranth?
A: In the 16th century the Spanish conquistadors banned the plant’s cultivation, fearing that the spiritual connection with it would stymie the establishment of Catholicism on the continent. But the Incas and Mayans continued to grow amaranth.
Source

Q: Can we eat raw amaranth?
A: We can’t digest raw amaranth. It’s like eating raw rice or raw beans. It’ll pass right through our digestive tract without change. It’s necessary to either cook it or puff it so we can digest it and enjoy the benefits of this amazing superfood.
Source

Q: Is amaranth a drug?
A: Amaranth is a plant. The seed, oil, and leaf are used as food. The entire plant is used to make medicine. Amaranth is used for ulcers, diarrhea, swelling of the mouth or throat, and high cholesterol, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
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Q: Is purple amaranth invasive?
A: The leaves are also edible, and the plant is often grown as a garden ornamental. This species is not particularly invasive, but may persist for a short time near areas of cultivation.
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Q: Does amaranth come back every year?
A: They’re easy to cultivate, able to tolerate poor soil and don’t require a lot of watering. Amaranth will also self-sow, bringing more flowers every year.
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Q: Will amaranth survive winter?
A: Amaranth cannot tolerate cold temperatures.
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Q: Where should I plant amaranth?
A: Amaranth plants grow well in average to rich, well-draining soil with equal amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus. Like many vegetable crops, they need at least five hours of sunlight a day to do well. While they grows best in moist but well drained soil, they will tolerate somewhat dry soil too.
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Q: Will amaranth reseed itself?
A: Amaranth often will reseed itself. In the landscape, amaranth looks good over a long period, becoming more colorful as the season goes on.
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Q: Should I pull amaranth?
A: Physically remove the weed prior to flowering Whether it’s confirmed or not, any plants you suspect of being Palmer amaranth should be physically removed by hoeing or hand-pulling.
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Q: Is purple amaranth edible?
A: Purple amaranth (Amaranthus blitum) is an annual plant that often grows as a weed. It is not often cultivated, but some people around the world gather the leaves and stems to be eaten as boiled vegetables. It is particularly common in Greek and Lebanese kitchens.
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Q: What amaranth is not edible?
A: Nearly all amaranths are edible, including ‘love-lies-bleeding’ and even the common roadside weedy forms. But those sold as edible varieties are selected for their good seed production and especially tasty leaves.
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About the author

Samuel is a gardening professional and enthusiast who has spent over 20 years advising homeowners and farm owners on weed identification, prevention and removal. He has an undergraduate degree in plant and soil science from Michigan State University.