Eating healthily doesn’t have to be boring. Nature provides us with hundreds of superfoods that not only taste delicious, but provide a wide range of vitamins and minerals as well.
One of these balanced sources of macronutrients is quinoa, a highly nutritious seed that releases energy slowly and can help improve our alertness throughout the day.
Quinoa is often classified as a grain, but it’s actually a seed from South America, first cultivated 5,000 years ago by the Incas. This gluten-free grain provides a great source of “good carbs” and significant amounts of protein, making it the perfect food if you’re looking for a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
Quinoa packs various benefits, as this pseudo-cereal is easy to cook and fits in with all kind of recipes for all meals and snacks, from breakfast to dinner.
Quinoa is a complete protein
One cup of seeds (180 grams) provides 8 grams of protein and 39 grams of good carbohydrates, high in fibre and with almost no sugar content. It has no cholesterol or sodium, making quinoa one of the best options in terms of protein/carbs ratio and for warding off heart diseases.
If that wasn’t enough, it also contains all the essential amino acids we need, making it a complete protein, highly recommended for vegetarians and vegans, and also good for people with diabetes, as its composition helps keep blood sugar under control.
Quinoa is a great contribution to your daily intake of vitamins and minerals, as it is rich in manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron, folate, zinc, and potassium. Just one cup of seeds accounts for 10% of the RDA for Vitamins B1, B2 and B6.
Most of these minerals are generally absent in our meals, so by eating this grain, we get a more complete nutrition in our diets. If your goal is eating low carb meals however, quinoa should be eaten in small amounts, as good carbs are still carbs.
Quinoa helps you lose weight efficiently
Rich in protein, this super grain increases metabolism and actually reduces the appetite, causing a better digestion and a lower amount of ingested calories. Moreover, you have a balanced meal, with a low glycaemic index, which can also control your daily calorie intake efficiently.
There are three popular types of quinoa – white, red and black – all of them easy to cook, using the same method you use to prepare rice.
This seed is adaptable for all meals and you can easily use it to prepare a balanced cereal for breakfast, a great salad with chicken and raw vegetables for lunch, or a mix of quinoa and cooked vegetables for dinner. Both healthy and delicious, you should put quinoa on your shopping list today.