Semolina is a grain product obtained from durum wheat. It provides many benefits for health with its rich nutritional content.
In addition to being a very good source of folate, it is also very rich in vitamins B1 and B3.
Folate is essential for the baby’s healthy development, especially during pregnancy.
Semolina is also very rich in protein content. Its 100-gram portion can meet 25% of the daily protein needs, and this protein content includes all of the essential amino acids.
Apart from its rich protein and vitamin content, it contains minerals such as manganese, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc.
With this content, semolina supports the secretion of enzymes that act as antioxidants, improving blood sugar irregularities, providing weight control, and reducing inflammation in the body.
Semolina is used to make Sooji upma, a traditional Indian breakfast porridge, as well as gnocchi, bulgur, couscous, and other dishes.
You can find more information about the nutritional content of semolina and its health benefits in this article.
Semolina Quick Nutrition Facts
Here's a quick nutrition overview for 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of semolina:
- Energy: 360 calories
- Carbs: 72.8 grams
- Fiber: 3.9 grams
- Protein: 12.7 grams
- Fat: 1.05 grams
- Saturated Fat: 0.15 grams
Jump to a section where you can learn more about semolina nutrition value, including macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, protein quality, and more.
Health Benefits of Semolina
Thanks to a significant amount of specific vitamins and minerals, semolina could provide several health benefits.
Continue reading to discover the potential benefits of consuming semolina.
They May Improve Nerve Functions
Copper is needed for the optimal functioning of the nervous system. It can improve mood by regulating the balance of hormones in the brain.
It can also support nerve functions and improve the transmission of signals between different parts of the body.
Copper can keep the nerve cells healthy and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
It is also needed by the body for several functions, including the formation of red blood cells.
Copper can support the defense mechanisms of the immune system involved in infection prevention.
It also helps in the formation of collagen, a protein that makes up our skin, bones, and other tissues. It protects the cells from damage and improves the absorption of iron in the body, thereby increasing the availability of this vital nutrient.
Copper is also needed for regulating carbohydrate metabolism. It can help to convert sugar into a usable form of energy, thus ensuring the body receives a steady supply of fuel to perform its critical functions.
They May Lower the Risk of Autoimmune Disorders
Manganese is an integral part of the body’s antioxidant mechanisms. It helps in the synthesis of an enzyme called superoxide dismutase, which acts as a powerful antioxidant in the body and prevents oxidative stress linked to the high risk of cancer, autoimmune disorders, and diabetes.
It is a vital nutrient that helps in the formation of connective tissue, blood clotting factors, bones, and reproductive hormones.
Manganese also supports the metabolism of fat and carbohydrate and enhances calcium absorption. It can help with blood sugar regulation, thereby improving glycemic control in patients with diabetes.
It is also needed for normal nerve and brain function. When combined with other nutrients like calcium and zinc, manganese can support the bone formation processes and improve bone mineral density.
This is especially important for postmenopausal women and older men who are at a higher risk of osteoporosis due to the decline in bone mineral density.
It can also reduce inflammation and hence, can be useful as a potential therapeutic agent for the management of inflammatory disorders such as osteoarthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
They May Improve the Availability of Iron
Vitamin B9 or folate works closely with other nutrients, especially vitamin B12, and helps the body make red blood cells by improving the availability of iron.
It plays a key role in cellular division. It can regulate the processes involved in cell division.
This can reduce the risk of cancer that can occur due to the uninhibited division of cells resulting in the formation of a large number of cells that fail to mature completely.
It also aids in the production of the body’s genetic material, such as DNA and RNA. It is especially important to ensure that the body is not deprived of this nutrient when tissues and organs are growing rapidly, such as during pregnancy, infancy, and adolescence.
Vitamin B9 plays a key role during pregnancy by regulating the replication of DNA and RNA, thereby supporting the proper growth and development of the fetus.
It can also help in the normal growth and development of children.
Semolina Nutrition Facts
Continue reading to find out the following semolina nutrition information:
- Macronutrients
- Vitamin Content
- Mineral Content
- Amino Acid Profile
- Fat Breakdown
- Carbohydrate Breakdown
Macronutrients
Macronutrients, often called macros, are most commonly used term when it comes to eating a healthy diet or losing weight. There are three types of macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
Macronutrients provide energy to your body and allows it to function properly. The following table contains the information on semolina macronutrients, while reading further will give you a better understanding on each of these macronutrients.
Carbohydrate | 72.8 g | |
Protein | 12.7 g | |
Fat | 1.05 g |
Vitamin Content
Semolina are not an excellent source of any particular vitamin.
However, they contain a good amount of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), and Vitamin B9 (Folate) and some Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), and Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine).
Here's the full semolina vitamin content per 100g:
Vitamin A | 0 IU | |
Vitamin C | 0 mg | |
Vitamin D | 0 µg | |
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | 0.28 mg | |
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 0.08 mg | |
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 3.31 mg | |
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) | 0.58 mg | |
Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine) | 0.103 mg | |
Vitamin B9 (Folate) | 72 µg | |
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) | 0 µg | |
Vitamin E | 0 mg | |
Vitamin K | 0 µg |
Mineral Content
Semolina are excellent source of Manganese.
They also contain a good amount of Copper, Magnesium, Phosphorus, and Zinc and some Iron, and Potassium.
Here's the full semolina mineral content per 100g:
Calcium | 17 mg | |
Copper | 0.189 mg | |
Fluoride | 0 mg | |
Iron | 1.23 mg | |
Magnesium | 47 mg | |
Manganese | 0.619 mg | |
Phosphorus | 136 mg | |
Potassium | 186 mg | |
Selenium | 0 μg | |
Sodium | 1 mg | |
Zinc | 1.05 mg |
Protein and Amino Acid Profile
Semolina contain 12.7 g of protein per 100 g, or in other words, semolina provide 3.53 g of protein per 100 kcal.
Similarly to most other plant proteins, protein in semolina contain all nine essential amino acids, however, they are a little bit low in lysine, and methionine.
Histidine OK | 0.257 g | |
Isoleucine OK | 0.49 g | |
Leucine OK | 0.867 g | |
Lysine Low | 0.243 g | |
Methionine Low | 0.198 g | |
Phenylalanine OK | 0.616 g | |
Threonine OK | 0.335 g | |
Tryptophan OK | 0.162 g | |
Valine OK | 0.54 g |
Fat Breakdown
Around 3% of the calories in semolina are from fat. Semolina have 1.05 grams or 1% of recommended daily values per 100g.
Saturated fat and trans fat can increase cholesterol levels and increase the heart disease risk.
Semolina fat content mostly consists of healthy unsaturated fats.
According to FDA, dietary cholesterol should be kept below 300 mg per day. Luckily, semolina is cholesterol free.
Semolina do not contain trans fats. Trans fats should be kept as low as possible.
Total Fat | 1.05 g | |
Saturated Fat | 0.15 g | |
Monounsaturated Fat | do not have a %DV | 0.124 g |
Polyunsaturated Fat | do not have a %DV | 0.43 g |
Trans Fats | do not have a %DV | 0 g |
Cholesterol | 0 mg |
Carbohydrate Breakdown
81% of the calories in semolina come from carbohydrates.
Carbs in semolina are mostly starch (95%), followed by fiber and sugars.
When it comes to sugars, semolina are almost sugar-free.
Semolina are a great source of fiber, and considered as a "high fiber food", as the contain 6.5 grams of fiber per serving.
According to U.S. government's National Labeling and Education Act (NLEA), food must contain 5 grams or more of dietary fiber per serving to be labeled as high fiber food.
Total amount of fiber in 100g of semolina is 3.9.
Total Carbohydrate | 72.8 g | |
Dietary Fiber | 3.9 g | |
Sugars | 0 g |
Articles related to Semolina
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Semolina Nutrients, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/168933/nutrients -
Listing of vitamins, Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/listing_of_vitamins/ -
Appendix 7. Nutritional goals for age-sex groups based on dietary reference intakes and Dietary Guidelines recommendations. (n.d.).
https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/appendix-7/ -
International tables of glycemic index and glycemic load values 2021: a systematic review
https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/114/5/1625/6320814?login=false -
Health Claim Notification for Saturated Fat, Cholesterol, and Trans Fat, and Reduced Risk of Heart Disease
https://www.fda.gov/food/food-labeling-nutrition/health-claim-notification-saturated-fat-cholesterol-and-trans-fat-and-reduced-risk-heart-disease -
Nutrient Recommendations: Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI), Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academies of Sciences Engineering, and Medicine
https://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/nutrientrecommendations.aspx -
Protein And Amino Acid Requirements In Human Nutrition, WHO
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/43411/WHO_TRS_935_eng.pdf -
Nutrition Facts Labeling RDIs Nutrients, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
https://www.fda.gov/media/99069/download -
Nutrition Facts Labeling DRVs Food Components, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
https://www.fda.gov/media/99059/download