Quinoa Benefits Healthy Eaters Need to Know

One of the benefits of Quinoa is that it is a substitute for many dishes. A delicious and versatile type of seed grain that is slowly gaining a niche in the market today in many diet and vegan recipes, due to it's being a complete protein.It is now considered a super food because of what it contains which is most beneficial to our health.

Quinoa (Chenopodium Quinoa) belongs to the Chenopodium family and a close relative of spinach, beets and Swiss chard. Although it is not actually a grain but a broad leaf plant, whose leaves are also edible and eaten as leaf vegetable, the seeds of Quinoa is consumed as a whole grain and cooked much like rice, and utilized in many other ways.

The saponins in Quinoa represent the anti-nutritional factor found in the grain. However, most of these saponins are concentrated in the outer layers of the grain, which are removed industrially by abrasive dehulling or traditionally by washing the grains with water prior to using or cooking, and it will not in any way be harmful for animals or human consumption.

Research and development project on Quinoa plant shows that because of its hardiness, it can be grown and cultured in large parts of Latin America, Africa and Asia, and soon in many other parts of the world to provide high quality food products for the global population. The Quinoa project helped in the development of many new food products based on this super grain. To date, these include whole grain, Quinoa flour, Quinoa flakes, Quinoa milk, bread, soft drinks, sprouts, protein concentrates and natural colorants, and many more are on the way.

Quinoa Health benefits

1. Quinoa is complete protein from a non-meat source; it is a grain seed, which contains fiber for better digestion. It has all the 9 essential amino acids that are important building blocks of our body against diseases. Its slow releasing carbohydrates can sustain your hunger longer and very good for diabetics.

2. It's cholesterol free so when you follow a quinoa diet it will help you reduce your own cholesterol level too

3. It is a very good source of fiber, and has complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Quinoa flour, ground from whole seeds, has a delicate nutty flavor.

4. A gluten-free product, it is suitable for anyone with wheat allergies. Quinoa can be served as hot breakfast cereal, an infant cereal, a substitute for rice, a nutritional thickener for soups, and stews; in salads, casseroles and desserts.

No wonder, you can now see a major use of quinoa in many healthy dishes and diet recipes and it is now also available in your local store. These benefits about Quinoa only summarize the many qualities of the super food. Use and preparation is another exciting fact. Now, it's time that you should try it! Even more, share it!