Are you tired of eating rice? Why don’t you try eating quinoa instead?
Quinoa is a grain native to Bolivia, known by its people as the “mother grain”. It doesn’t contain any gluten, but it is full of protein, minerals, and fiber.
Here are the many health benefits that come from eating quinoa:
Quinoa is extremely nutritious.
Just one cup of cooked quinoa contains 58% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of manganese, 30% of the RDA for magnesium, and 15% of the RDA for iron. Manganese helps bone production and collagen production, magnesium maintains blood pressure, and iron helps your red blood cells carry oxygen.
Pure quinoa is naturally gluten-free.
Quinoa is perfect for people on gluten-free diets, but be aware that it may not be safe for patients with Celiac disease. Recent tests have suggested that quinoa may have proteins that are similar enough to gluten to activate the immune systems of Celiac patients.
Quinoa has a lot of protein.
Quinoa is considered a “complete” protein food, meaning that it provides all nine essential amino acids that are needed for good health. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and your body need proteins in order to function!
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Quinoa can be prepared in a variety of ways, such as in a bowl.
Image Source: 4kodiak
Quinoa is very high in fiber compared to other grains.
One cup of uncooked quinoa contains about 17-27 grams of fiber. Unfortunately, once boiled and cooked, the quinoa contains only eight grams of fiber because it absorbs so much water.
Quinoa contains the flavonoids quercetin and kaempferol.
Flavonoids are a group of plant metabolites that provide health benefits with antioxidant effects.
Quinoa is rich in riboflavin (vitamin B2).
Riboflavin builds red blood cells and is essential for metabolic energy production. It helps support the breakdown of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.
Quinoa is incredibly easy to prepare.
All you have to do is boil it for about 15-20 minutes, depending on the amount. You can add quinoa to a bowl of vegetables or eat it as a substitute for rice.
Are you craving quinoa now? Go to your local grocery store, and grab yourself a bag of quinoa today!
