Quinoa is an ancient, South American grain that has recently become popular all across the United States. And with good reason as we will explore in this article all about quinoa nutrition facts. By the way, quinoa is pronounced KEEN-wah and was priced by the Inca in Peru. Not only was it a staple of their diet for centuries, it was also thought of as a sacred, god-like plant.
This is in part because it is considered a complete protein. It contains all essential amino acids our bodies need including lysine. Quinoa actually has plenty of this vital amino acid. Amino acids are needed by your body to create proteins that are then used in repairing and building muscle fibers. In our current diet, we get most of our protein from animal products. Only a handful of grains and other plant based foods contain all the different types of protein blocks we need. It is one of the reasons Quinoa is called the mother of all grains and is classified as a superfood.
Quinoa is also good for you because it is full of fiber and low in sodium and cholesterol. It also contains plenty of Iron, Magnesium, Phosperous, Manganese, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Folate, Vitamin B6, Vitamin E and Niacine. All those nutrients make it a very healthy whole grain choice that also happens to be low-calorie. It comes to no-one’s surprise that it is now classified as a super food.
With all that fiber and protein, it is a great food to include when you are trying to lose some weight since both of those nutrients help keep you full longer. Try having it instead of high-carb foods like pasta and white rice. Not only is it healthier, it also won’t affect your blood sugar levels as much which helps keep down cravings later.
Not only is quinoa a very versatlie grain – you can make breads, puddings, and pilaf like side dishes out of it or just serve it like a breakfast porridge – it is also gluten free, making it a great choice for anyone suffering from celiac disease. It’s also delicious on salads and gives a plain old plate of lettuce and vegetables some extra texture and flavor.
Still not convinced this is worth a try? Let’s see what you can expect to gain from it. In other words, what types of health benefits can you expect from this superfood? It can improve your heart health and is a great source of antioxidants which may prevent cancer. It also contains quite a bit of lignans which help protect your heart. To top it all off, it’s a whole grain which is the type of food we could all use more of in our diets. No wonder it is considered so food for you.