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If you follow the food trends, then you probably know about quinoa (pronounce KEEN-WAH). Here are some things you many not know:
Quinoa is a seed that is prepared like a whole grain. It is originally from South America and is harvested by removing the seed from its bitter-tasting coating. The leaves are eaten as a vegetable, but are not as commercially available.
Quinoa is extremely healthy and is known as a “superfood”. It contains all 9 essential amino acids – making it a complete protein, is almost always organic, and is gluten- and cholesterol-free.
You may already know that white rice has no nutritional benefit and may have already switched to brown rice. But while brown rice contains zinc, “it also contains a substance called phytic acid that interferes with zinc absorption.” It’s not uncommon for people who eat a high amount of brown rice to become zinc deficient. Have you checked your blood nutrient levels lately?
Compared to brown rice, quinoa is higher in all 10 of these nutrients:
- Protein (in 1 cup, quinoa has 3g more than brown rice)
- Fiber
- Calcium
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Zinc
- Riboflavin (one of the B Vitamins)
- Folate
Have you tried quinoa? Which brands are your favorite?
Leann Forst, M.B.A., C.H.H.P., A.A.D.P.
Board Certified Holistic Practitioner and Food Toxin Specialist
