Quinoa has gained popularity as a health food in the United States and other Westernized countries. Though people have been cultivating it in South America since ancient times.
In fact, hundreds of years ago, the Inca people considered this ancient grain a sacred food.
In the past couple of decades, quinoa’s popularity has grown exponentially as the demand for easy-to-grow, nutritious, gluten-free grain alternatives has soared.UFABET
Not only is quinoa nutrient-dense, but it may offer health benefits, too.
1. Packed with nutrients
Quinoa is a grain crop grown for its edible seeds. These seeds are what we call quinoa — pronounced KEEN-wah.
Although it’s usually lumped in with cereal grains, like oats and barley, quinoa is actually a pseudocereal grain.
In other words, it is basically a seed that is prepared and eaten similarly to a grain. Other examples of pseudocereal grains include buckwheat and amaranth.
There are many types of quinoa, including red, black and white .
Here is the nutrient breakdown for 1 cup (185 grams) of cooked quinoa:
- Calories: 222
- Protein: 8 grams
- Fat: 3.55 grams
- Carbohydrates: 39 grams
- Fiber: 5 grams
- Folate: 19% of the daily value (DV)
- Vitamin B6: 13% of the DV
- Vitamin E: 8% of the DV
- Copper: 39% of the DV
- Iron: 15% of the DV
- Zinc: 18% of the DV
- Manganese: 51% of the DV
- Magnesium: 28% of the DV
- Potassium: 7% of the DV
- Phosphorus: 22% of the DV
Quinoa is a good source of a number of important nutrients, including folate, magnesium, zinc, and iron.
It’s also rich in fiber and protein, nutrients that play an important role in helping you feel full
2. Contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory plant compounds.
The health effects of real foods go beyond the vitamins and minerals they provide.
For example, quinoa contains several plant compounds that may benefit health in a number of ways.
Two flavonoid plant compounds that have been particularly well studied are quercetin and kaempferol. These are the main flavonoids found in quinoa.
Quercetin and kaempferol have anti-inflammatory qualities and act as antioxidants in the body. Meaning they help protect cells from damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals.
Consuming more flavonoid-rich foods like quinoa may help promote overall health and protect against certain diseases and overall mortality.
By including nutritious foods like in your diet. You will significantly increase your total intake of these and other antioxidant compounds.