Quinoa has stimulated the interest of public media and nutritionists for the last years, and it is becoming an increasingly common ingredient in North America. Quinoa is typically grown in South America, but now it is found on most grocery stores and you can even order it online. Experienced cooks and nutritionists are learning its properties and many would recommend it as one of the healthiest superfoods.

Why is quinoa a superfood?

Quinoa has a high content on vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, riboflavin, folic acid, vitamin E, and beta carotene. It also has 24 g of proteins for each cup, and it is cooked in no more than 15 minutes. If you think it’s expensive, you should know quinoa cooks up to three times its volume, and provides greater nutritional value and energy than rice or pasta.

Having a complete combination of nutrients, quinoa has been identified as one of the healthiest foods. It is a great ally for vegans because it has an optimal amino acid content and it’s an ideal source of non-animal protein. The carbohydrates found in quinoa are complex carbohydrates, which is good news for low-carbohydrate diets because it doesn’t rise your insulin levels dramatically.

People with allergies, Crohn’s or celiac disease should know quinoa does not belong to the same family as wheat, it doesn’t contain gluten, and it is also included in the recommended diet for autistic and ADD children. While keeping all of these great properties, quinoa is also versatile, and you can use it with salads, soup, and even desserts. No wonder why it is the superfood for the new generations!

From magical grain to superfood

In the mountain regions of Peru, the Incas considered quinoa as their most sacred foods, they called it “mother grain” and found out it was one of the few foods that provided them with enough stamina and strength for their strenuous activities. One of the strategies by the Spanish army against the Incas was to destroy their quinoa fields and prohibit the consumption of this magical grain.

When quinoa crops were replaced with potatoes and wheat, a wave of malnutrition and infant mortality started. However, there were still crops hidden from the colonists high on the mountains, where it sustained harsh environment until it was freely commercialized in South America, and more recently, North America as well.

Now, quinoa’s popularity as a superfood comes from different studies showing its superior nutritional contents. Its versatility and availability makes quinoa a smart choice, even for bodybuilding and endurance athletes. The energy in quinoa comes from its proteins, as it contains the essential amino acids, compared to the contents found in milk.

Even NASA is considering quinoa as a crop to be used for life-support in space. So, if you haven’t tried quinoa yet, take 15 minutes to cook and make it a part of your next meal. Such a superfood should not stay in the supermarket’s shelve when it can provide great nutrition to you and your family.

Subscribe to keep up to date with more blogs like this

If you liked this blog don’t forget to subscribe to my email to receive exclusive regular free blogs, healing recipes and tips that feed the body. You will also recieve an exclusive pdf on how to alkalise the body to help prevent disease and a 7 day alkalising challenge: