Quinoa Benefits For Health and Nutrition Facts
Quinoa is a highly valuable nutrient-rich food that is gluten-free and a rich source of protein. Quinoa Benefits for health include weight loss, improved hearthealth, detoxification of the body, and an improved digestive health. It also helps in regulating diabetes and reducing gallstones.
It can be used like many common grains or ground into a powder or flour. It has a very low content of fat and can be added to diets around the world as a healthy alternative to many other similar foods.
What Is Quinoa?
Quinoa is an interesting form of pseudocereal that is not technically a grain or a traditional cereal. It is a crop that has been grown for thousands of years and is grown mainly for its edible seeds. Related to spinach and beetroots, it is becoming a major food in America, Europe, China, and Canada, despite the fact that it has to be imported in these parts.
It is an ancient cereal that was cultivated in the Andes for the last 7,000 years. The scientific name is Chenopodium quinoa, and it is a species of goosefoot. It generally grows to a height between 1m to 3m in length, producing grains every year that can grow in various colors such as white, yellow, pink, orange, red, brown, and black. The grains can be consumed whole as well as in the form of a flour. It is primarily grown in South America, in the Andean region, including countries like Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia.
The plant was grown in the high altitudes ranging from 2,000-4,000 meters in the Andes, where every year, the Incan emperor customarily sowed the first seeds. It was a very important agro plant for the Incas, as it was one of their basic cereals, apart from maize. In the recent past, the Peruvian government has been giving incentives to farmers to increase the production of this pseudocereal and other similar crops because of their outstanding nutritional qualities.
In the recent past, the Peruvian government has been giving incentives to farmers to increase the production of quinoa and other similar crops because of their outstanding nutritional qualities.
Quinoa Nutrition Facts
Quinoa is considered an essential “wonder food” because it has a tremendous amount of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.
It is rich in magnesium and phosphorous, as well as significant amount of iron, zinc, copper, and potassium. It even has trace amounts of calcium, sodium, and selenium. It is a good source of thiamin, riboflavin, folate, vitamin B6, and other b complex vitamins. This makes quinoa the perfect food to help regulate the internal functions and the metabolism of the body.
It is also a rich source of phytonutrients and [5] flavonoids like kaempferol and quercetin, as well as tryptophan, which has its own special health benefits that add to the demand for quinoa.
Finally, there are a huge amount of protein components and vital amino acids found [6] within it that the body needs for proper functioning.
Types
Although there are approximately 120 varieties of quinoa, the three most commercialized types are white, red, and black quinoa.
White Quinoa: This variety, commonly known as ivory quinoa, is the most widely available in stores. The best part about this is that it takes the least time to cook.
Red Quinoa: This variety is most preferred by chefs for dishes like cold salads. Compared to the white variety, red quinoa tends to retain its original shape and structure after cooking.
Black Quinoa: This variety retains its original color even after cooking. Although it takes the longest to cook. This one has a unique earthy and sweet flavor.
Caloric Content
100 grams of quinoa only contains 120 calories and only 2 grams of fat. For a grain-like substance, that is far less fat than most foods of that type. For people concerned about their weight, replacing other grain foods with this is a wonderful way to slim down.
Quinoa Health Benefits
Quinoa is a nutritive food that is good for health. It provides various health benefits, some of which include:
Gluten-free
Quinoa is also gluten-free and therefore can be consumed by people who have gluten intolerance. It can be used in bread, pasta, and other food items that usually contain gluten. It can also be used in place of other gluten-free food items like tapioca, potato, corn because of its high nutrition value.
Improves Digestive Process
Quinoa contains insoluble fiber, which helps to improve the digestive process and facilitates healthier bowel movements. This further helps in reducing the risk of flatulence, bloating, pain, constipation, and gas.
Regulates Diabetes
Quinoa seeds can be beneficial in regulating diabetes and blood cholesterol levels. A study on high fructose-fed rats indicated that the consumption of its seeds can help in reducing the adverse effects of fructose on both the glucose level and lipid profile.
Antioxidant Activity
Quinoa has antioxidant properties that help in protecting the heart, liver, kidney, lungs, and pancreas against oxidative stress. When compared with other pseudocereals, such as amaranthus, it has higher antioxidant activity. Some of the antioxidants found in it include phenolics, polyphenols, and anthocyanins. Sprouts of quinoa have also shown significant antioxidant activity.
Good Source of Magnesium
Magnesium is one of the trace elements found in quinoa. The dietary intake of magnesium provides benefits, including the control of asthma, increased bone health, a reduced risk of osteoporosis, an increase of heart health, and the regulation of blood sugar levels.
Good Source of Proteins
The quinoa plant has been highly regarded as a rich source of protein and amino acids. It is a source of essential amino acids like lysine, methionine, and tryptophan. In fact, it is a single source for all of the nine essential amino acids, which is not usually the case with other grains.
Improves Heart Health
Quinoa contains high-quality proteins and carbohydrates with low glycemic value, along with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, as well as antioxidants. It is also considered good for reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases in the future and improving the overall heart health. Trials on young and middle-aged people confirmed a decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Improves Bone Health
The amount of calcium found in quinoa is similar to that of dairy products, but it has been pointed out that those who are intolerant of dairy products can eat it. Calcium is very important for the bones, brain, and nervous system.
