How Healthy is Couscous Compared to Rice and Wheat?

Couscous is a traditional staple of North African cuisine, made from a mix of semolina, wheat flour, and water. Couscous has a mild flavour which makes it extremely versatile. It goes well with different flavours, both sweet and savoury. Semolina, which is finely ground wheat, is mixed with flour, pressed and then rolled into tiny beads to produce couscous. Wheat, rice, and couscous assume the flavours of the sauces or seasonings added in them.  However, wheat and rice are grains and couscous is a type of pasta, one can buy whole-grain versions of both. As a culinary ingredient, it works wonderfully as a substitution for rice or quinoa and can be served in salads, soups, side dishes and even main courses.

Regular couscous has 6 grams of protein, while whole-grain couscous has 9 grams, on the other hand, 1 cup of cooked white and brown rice supply 4 and 5 grams respectively. Couscous provide more amount of protein compared to other grains that typically provide a lower level of this macronutrient. This is good for physically active people, who need it for muscle building after exercise and sustaining energy.

Couscous is actually superior to rice and quinoa as it provides less than 200 calories in each cup, which is less than 10% of the daily calorie intake suggested for adults. This makes it a good alternative for people trying to lose weight through dieting.

Brown rice and whole-grain couscous both have low glycemic scores as compared to the white rice and wheat, depicting that whole grain couscous does not spike blood sugar levels. White rice has a high glycemic score, so it significantly boosts your blood sugar

The rich fibre content of couscous acts as a suppressor to the secretion of ghrelin hormone, which is responsible for the feelings of hunger. This helps in reducing the chances of overeating, which is a common problem for people who live stressful, fast-paced lives and are attempting to lose weight.

Aside from its nutritional value, another of couscous benefits is that its preparation requires a very little time. A few healthy recipes you can make with couscous are:

• Couscous With Beans, Avocado and Scallions
• Gingery Shrimp and Couscous
• Giant Couscous with Butternut Squash & Herbs
• Orange-Tomato Couscous with Chicken
• Couscous with Cranberries and Almonds
• Couscous & Fruit Salad
• Mediterranean Couscous Cabbage Rolls
• Spicy Chickpeas and Couscous