As versatile as white rice and as nutritious as whole grain with a flavour all its own, quinoa is quickly growing in popularity all over the world. With quinoa appearing on so many menus and showing up in news stories in magazines and on television, you may find yourself wondering if the buzz about this delicious seed is just hype. The truth is that quinoa is a wholesome food that provides many benefits for the body.
Among other benefits from adding this grain to your diet, quinoa nutrition includes (click for cooked & uncooked quinoa nutrition)
– Complete amino acids. Your body requires nine essential amino acids to build muscle and body tissue: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. Quinoa is one of the few foods that contains all nine.
– Ample protein. Because quinoa is so rich in amino acids, it is a very good source of protein, particularly for vegetarians. One serving can have as much as 20% protein, about 50% more than wheat and more than 2.45 times that of rice.
– Oxygen-carrying iron. In your body, iron plays a vital role, helping to deliver much-needed oxygen to your cells. Iron-rich quinoa supplements iron levels in your body, helping you avoid anaemia and improving oxygenation of the brain and your extremities.
– Large dose of fibre. Quinoa has double the fibre found in most grains, so it will help keep you regular. Fibre has also been clinically shown to reduce cholesterol levels and help those with diabetes control their blood glucose levels.
– Age-fighting manganese. A powerful antioxidant, manganese helps to protect your body from free radicals, particles in the environment that cause cellular damage. Studies have found that a diet rich in antioxidants can protect the heart, decrease one’s risk of cancer and slow down the appearance of wrinkles.
Because quinoa can be served so many different ways, incorporating it into your weekly menus at home is easy. Start by using quinoa in place of rice, bulgur, barley and other grains. Once you experience the benefits of quinoa for yourself, you’ll be anxious to experiment with new quinoa recipes. Find out whether you should you go on a quinoa diet.
Quinoa cooked nutrition facts
- Quinoa uncooked nutrition facts
