Ten reasons why Quinoa is so good for you
Quinoa is a very versatile super-grain (well, technically it’s a pseudocereal) and it can be used in a huge amount of ways. It’s available whole, flaked, puffed and even ground into flour.
It’s the perfect accompaniment to curries and stews for anyone tired of – or trying to avoid – the more traditional rice, and can also be used in plenty of sweet treats such as snack bars and energy balls.
But how does it shape up as a health food? Let’s look at the health benefits of quinoa:
Quinoa contains ‘heart-healthy’ fats that can give a boost to your ‘good cholesterol’ level. Its potassium content also means it will help you maintain a healthy heartbeat, and its soluble fibre means it reduces your risk of heart disease.
Quinoa has no natural gluten at all, so it’s a great choice for anyone trying to eat a gluten-free diet, such as coeliacs. You can also use quinoa flour as an excellent alternative to gluten-containing wheat flour.
100 grams of quinoa will give you around 16% of your recommended daily amount of magnesium. Magnesium is an essential mineral, used by the body to regulate nerve and muscle function, build bones, form DNA, manufacture protein and regulating blood sugar.
Quinoa has a glycaemic index of 53, far lower than rice, which places it in the ‘low’ category, making it a wise choice for diabetics and anyone who is trying to avoid spiking their blood sugar.
It outclasses rice in many ways
Quinoa has levels of protein and amino acids that rice can only dream about! It also has far more fibre than either white or brown rice, making it a superior choice. Finally, quinoa has fewer calories and fewer carbohydrates, so it’s ideal as a rice alternative when you’re worried about piling on the pounds.
Quinoa is a superb weight loss food
The excellent amount of fibre found in quinoa means you’ll feel fuller quicker and for longer. For every 100 grams of quinoa, there’s around 10-16 grams of fibre, making it an excellent choice for people wanting to curb their appetite and lose weight.
It can help bring down your cholesterol
Another great effect of quinoa’s high fibre content is its ability to help lower cholesterol.
This study conducted in 2014 found that eating 50 grams (1.7 oz) daily for 6 weeks lowered total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol.
All the essential amino acids are present
Quinoa is a complete protein, something that’s very rare in the plant world. This means that all nine essential amino acids are present. They’re ‘essential’ because they can’t be synthesised by the human body – therefore they have to be supplied by what we eat each day. Quinoa is one of the very finest sources of these amino acids.
When quinoa was first cultivated thousands of years ago in the Andes, it was known as ‘the mother grain’, and it’s a great source of magnesium, which helps your body absorb calcium. For this reason, it’s a brilliant food for breastfeeding mothers to eat.
Quinoa is high in vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, which is essential for keeping brain cells healthy. It also contains very good levels of iron, which supports brain health by keeping red blood cells healthy.
It’s also a rich source of the antioxidant quercetin, whose anti-inflammatory properties can help to prevent brain disease.
Come and have a look at our impressive range of quinoa here!