Everything You Need to Know About Quinoa

Lately, you may have been hearing a lot about quinoa and wondering what all the fuss is about. Quinoa is a delicious food that has been called both a super food and a super grain. A relative newcomer in the United States, quinoa is rapidly gaining in popularity because it not only tastes great but is also so good for you!

Quinoa is especially great for vegetarians because it has all nine of the amino acids that we need. This makes it one of the few plant-based foods that can be considered a complete source of protein. It is a great source of lysine, which is not found in many other vegetarian foods. Our bodies utilize lysine to repair cells.

In addition to being a great source of protein, quinoa is also loaded with the good kind of carbohydrates. Low glycemic carbohydrates burn slowly and can really help you keep your cravings under control.

Quinoa is also a great source of vitamins and minerals. The magnesium in quinoa makes it perfect for migraine sufferers. Magnesium has been shown to relax the blood vessels. Research has shown that migraine suffers who increase their intake of magnesium suffer from fewer migraines. Also found in these tiny seeds are calcium, manganese, iron, copper and riboflavin.

Although you may have never heard of quinoa, it has been grown for almost 6,000 years. It was a important in the Incan diet and has been referred to as the gold of the Incas. Quinoa grows well in the tough Andes mountains, but is now grown in the western world in addition.

The exterior of quinoa is covered with a bitter substance called saponin. It is so soapy that Incans used to use the same water that they rinsed quinoa with to bathe in! The purpose of saponin is to protect the quinoa as it grows. It keeps away birds, pests and helps prevent disease. However, saponin is extremely bitter and may also cause digestive distress. For this reason, quinoa must be rinsed prior to serving. Some people prefer to soak quinoa before they rinse it, but as long as you rinse thoroughly for 5 minutes, you do not have to soak quinoa.

Quinoa can be found in many large grocery stores. Alternatively, you can buy it at a health food store in bulk bins or you can buy quinoa online. Why not try quinoa today and see what you have been missing?