Everybody Loves Quinoa

Including me! Because it's so delicious and nutritious.. and I want to dedicate a little blog post to it.

Quinoa comes with a delicious nutty taste to it and it’s so versatile. It can be used where you would usually have your pasta, your rice, your potatoes for example. But it can also be added to salads, stews, soups. If you want to go all out, try sprouting it for an even more nutritious food!

Cooking it is as simple as pasta, just add double the amount of water together with Quinoa in a pan. Boil and reduce heat, simmer for 10 mins and let sit with the heat turned off completely for another 5 mins. You should see white little sprouts coming out of the seed. On this note – Quinoa is actually classified as a seed, not a grain. It comes in different colours from red, to white to black and they have different intensities in taste.

Now, what happens when you put this superfood in your body?

Your stomach will be happy as it’s not difficult to break down, your intestine likewise as it can be easily absorbed. 
Your body will be excited to get all the amazing amino acids present in this food which it can use to repair tissues and for normal body function. Quinoa is one of the very few plant based proteins that count as a complete protein as it comes with all the 9 essential amino acids.

Then your bowel will be delighted to know that there is a second benefit – fibre! Quinoa contains almost twice as much fibre as other grains which can help constipation, but also regulate blood sugar and lower cholesterol.

Your muscles will be happy as they will be supplied with lots of oxygen supported by iron which will help transport oxygen throughout your body.

Your nervous system can be calmed with a good portion of Quinoa for dinner after a stressful day thanks to the magnesium.

Also, your muscles will get a good portion of Riboflavin and Folate which are important B vitamins that are responsible for energy metabolism.

Research has also shown that two phytonutrients are present in Quinoa in very high amounts – quercetin and kaempferol. Both of which are extremely strong antioxidants so they will help your body fight and break down free radicals.

One more, a decent amount of Zinc will also be supplied for healthy skin, hair and nails.

That’s one healthy happy body right there, just from a bit of Quinoa :)!

BUT.. and there is a but of course, as with all things. Quinoa has become a bit of a controversial product. Be mindful, buy fair trade and organic. Due to the massive success Quinoa has over here in Europe but also North America and prices sky-rocketing accordingly, the people harvesting it cannot afford to buy it anymore. Plus, due to the high demand production of the grain has become less sustainable as mass production is being prioritized over sustainability. The soil cannot keep up with nurturing the plant and fertilizer have to be used.
What used to be a sacred grain - the mother of grains even for the Incas, a traditional staple in South Amercian kitchens, produced on a small scale has become another victim of our mass society.
Just something to bear in mind when purchasing, eating and enjoying your delicious Quinoa creations :)!

My favourite recipe is on my recipes page - a Quinoa, Kale and Avocado Salad.