4 Top Reasons To Include Quinoa To Your Diet Today!
There are a lot of animal proteins in the nature and people usually find them in dairy products and meat. But, what about plant proteins? In case you are looking for plant proteins, you should definitely choose quinoa.
What is quinoa?
Although it is usually classified as grain, quinoa actually doesn’t belong to the family of grains. Quinoa is often called a pseudocereal because it is consumed, prepared and has very similar nutritional values as grains, but it belongs to the grass family. Quinoa belongs to the same plant species as chard, spinach, and beets.
The nutritional value of quinoa is much better than the value found in all other grains especially when we talk about proteins, minerals and fats. Quinoa originates from the Andes in South America and it has been used by the local population as a superfood for centuries. The Ancient Incas called quinoa – the mother of grains and they have often used this food in their daily meals.
Four health benefits of eating quinoa
Quinoa is packed with healthy minerals and vitamins including:
– Flavonoids – antioxidant phytonutrients
– Vitamins E, B1, B2, B3, B6 and B9
– Essential minerals like magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, copper, zinc and calcium
– Monosaturated fats that are very beneficial for the health of our hearts like omega-3 fatty acids and oleic acid
– Non-absorbent and absorbent fibers
- Lowers cholesterol levels
One of the most important quinoa benefits is the ability to lower bad cholesterol. High concentrations of fiber help the system with this task. Absorbent fibers mixed with bile acids are secreted in the body and reduce the presence of bad LDL cholesterol. Quinoa is an excellent replacement for animal proteins.
- Reduces the chances of diabetes
Quinoa is composed of 60% of sprouts. The unusually high ratio between carbohydrates and protein in the plant explains its ability to regulate blood sugar. Quinoa is also packed with absorbent fiber that helps the control of blood sugar and slows down the process of breaking carbohydrates into glucose. Anti-inflammatory nutrients including vitamin E elements, phenolic acid, and polysaccharides prevent unwanted inflammatory processes that are closely related with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
- Helps the maintenance of healthy body weight
Thanks to the large amounts of protein and fiber found in quinoa, this food suppresses appetite and provides feeling of satiety for a longer period of time. The fiber found in quinoa contributes to better digestion.
- Quinoa controls blood pressure
Quinoa is definitely the richest source of potassium compared to any other cereal and it is a well-known fact that potassium maintains a healthy balance of sodium in the body which ultimately affects the reduction of high blood pressure.
It is good to know that there are several different types of quinoa and people can usually choose between white, black and red quinoa. Red quinoa is the best option for salads because during thermal treatment it doesn’t lose its shape, color, and nutritional value. Black quinoa is a little bit sweeter and comes with an earthy flavor.