Food and Drink

Quinoa Nutrition Truths — Why This Particular Ancient Grain Is So Good For You

The ancient Incan grain Quiona has recently made it’s way into the US and is rapidly gaining popularity. And with great reason as we will explore in this article about quinoa nutrition facts. As a side note, you may be interested to know that the Inca called Quinoa the “Mother Grain”. Not only was it a staple of their diet for hundreds of years, it was also thought of as a sacred, god-like plant.

This is in part due to the fact that it is considered a complete protein. This means that it has all the amino acids we require; including one named lysine. Quinoa definitely has plenty of this crucial amino acid. Amino acids are required by your body to create proteins that are then used in repairing and building muscle fibers. In our present diet, we get nearly all of our protein from animal products. Part of the reason why is because there are only a few vegetarian foods out there that include all the amino acids our bodies require. It is one of the reasons Quinoa is called the mother of all grains and is categorized as a superfood.

Quinoa is also good for you because it is full of fiber and low in sodium and cholesterol. Quinoa is also full of Thiamin, Riboflavin, Folate, Vitamin B6, Vitamin E, Niacine, Iron, Magnesium, Phosperous, and Manganese. In other words is full of essential vitamins and minerals while still being remarkably low in calories. I am not shocked it made the “Super Food” list.

Quinoa is perfect when you are trying to slim down since both the fiber and protein in it will keep you full while you are eating a low-calorie food. You can make it instead of rice, potatoes, pasta and other white starches. It’s healthier and you won’t have to worry about sugar cravings later.

It also happens to be a gluten-free food and lends itself to a variety of healthy dishes like quinoa breads, puddings, breakfast cereal and numerous side dishes that taste very much like pilafs or risottos. It’s also delicious on salads and gives a common plate of lettuce and vegetables some extra texture and flavor.

But why would you want to eat it? Here’s why you should give quinoa a serious chance as a grain in your eating plan It can strengthen your heart health and is a great source of antioxidants which may well prevent cancer. Lignans can also be found in quinoa which have been shown to protect your heart from damage and keep it strong. 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 healthy for you.

Ready to make some tasty food with this ancient grain? Take this easy quinoa muffins recipe for instance. Quinoa is also a gluten free grain, making it perfect for anybody living a gluten-free life-style. As are these delicious gluten free oatmeal cookies you should not overlook.