What is Amaranth?

Amaranth is a superfood that has been cultivated for centuries. It is a grain that is native to Central and South America but has been consumed for 1000s of year throughout the world. It is a member of the amaranth family, which also includes quinoa and buckwheat. Amaranth is also gluten-free grain, which makes it a good choice for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

Amaranth is a small, round grain that comes in a variety of colors, including red, white, black, and yellow. It has a nutty flavor and a chewy texture. Amaranth can be cooked like rice, ground into flour, or popped like popcorn.

Why is NASA Interested in Amaranth?

NASA has been interested in amaranth for decades now and has been studying it for its many potentials. First, it is a great source of protein. Protein is essential for astronauts and space travel and helps to maintain their muscle mass and strength in space. Amaranth is a complete protein (very rare in plant protein), which means that it contains all nine essential amino acids. This makes it a good choice for astronauts who are looking for a protein-rich food that is also easy to digest.

Second, amaranth is a very good source of fiber. Fiber is important for digestion, preventing constipation, and helps keeps the gut microbiome stable and happy. Amaranth fiber can also help to regulate blood sugar levels. Astronauts need to be able to digest their food efficiently in space, and amaranth can help optimize the caloric energy output.

Third, amaranth is a naturally a good source of vitamins and minerals. It is rich in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as magnesium, phosphorus, and iron. These nutrients are essential for maintaining good health, and they can help to protect astronauts from the harmful effects of radiation in space.

Fourth, amaranth is a hardy crop. It can be grown in a variety of climates and needs little water and resources to grow, making it a potential food source for future space colonies.

Fifth, amaranth is easy to grow and process. Amaranth can be grown in virtually all growing zone being able to be planted anywhere between zone 2 and zone 11. Amaranth is even resistant to even some of the harshest chemicals and continues to thrive. NASA has been exploring way to grow amaranth in different plants.

To learn more details about Amaranth and its versatility and amazing nutritional values, check out some of our other blogs about Amaranth on EaternalNutrition.com.  

How is NASA Using Amaranth?

Using Amaranth to Develop New Food Products for Astronauts

NASA scientists are working on ways to make amaranth into nutritious and palatable foods that can be eaten in space. They are doing this by developing new recipes and processing techniques to diversify the plant even further. For example, they are experimenting with ways to make amaranth into cereals, breads, and pastas that have a good taste and texture while also maintaining extremely good nutritional values. They are also working on ways to make amaranth into snacks that are easy to eat and digest in space and can act as a great treat while exploring the unknown.

There are very little negatives of using Amaranth but when you are thousands or millions of miles away from home there can be challenges in processing. One of the challenges that NASA scientists are facing is that amaranth is a very small grain. This makes it difficult to process and cook. However, NASA scientists have been working on ways to overcome this challenge by developing new methods for grinding and cooking amaranth.

Despite the challenges, NASA scientists are optimistic that they will be able to develop new food products made from amaranth that are both nutritious and palatable. These foods could be a valuable addition to the diets of astronauts on long-duration space missions.

Using Amaranth to make Insulation

The fibers from amaranth can be used to make insulation for spacecraft. This insulation can help to keep the spacecraft warm in the cold of space and cool in the heat. Amaranth fibers are a good choice for insulation because they are lightweight, strong, and fire-resistant. They are also non-toxic, which is important for spacecraft.

NASA scientists are currently developing new ways to use amaranth fibers to make insulation. They are working on ways to make the insulation more efficient and to make it easier to install. They are also working on ways to make the insulation more affordable.

Amaranth insulation could be a valuable addition to future spacecraft. It could help to improve the safety and comfort of astronauts on other planets.

Using amaranth to make fuel

The oil from amaranth seeds can be used to make biodiesel fuel. Biodiesel fuel is a renewable fuel that can be made from plants. It is a clean-burning fuel that does not produce harmful emissions.

NASA scientists are currently investigating the potential of using amaranth oil to make biodiesel fuel. They are working on ways to extract the oil from the seeds and to refine it into fuel. They are also working on ways to make the fuel more efficient.

Amaranth biodiesel fuel could be a valuable addition to the fuel supply for future spacecraft. This can be helpful when you’re in another planet.

Using amaranth to make building materials

The fibers from amaranth can be used to make building materials, such as bricks and concrete. These materials can be used to build structures in space, such as space stations and moon bases.

Amaranth fibers are a good choice for building materials because they are strong, lightweight, and fire-resistant, and non-toxic.

NASA scientists are currently developing new ways to use amaranth fibers to make building materials. They are working on ways to make the materials stronger and more durable. They are also working on ways to make the materials more affordable.

Amaranth building materials could be a valuable addition to future space colonies. They could help to create safe and comfortable living spaces for astronauts.

The Future of Amaranth in Space Travel

NASA is continuing to research amaranth and its potential applications in space travel. The agency believes that amaranth could be a valuable resource for future astronauts, and it is committed to developing new ways to use this superfood in space.

In the future, it is possible that amaranth could be used to make a variety of other products for space travel, such as medicines, cosmetics, and clothing. Amaranth is a versatile crop with a lot of potential, and NASA is excited to explore all of the ways that it can be used in space. One day future generations will be eating an Amaranth dish, wearing cloths made out of Amaranth fibers, in a house that is made with Amaranth bricks, on a colony in Mars.