Quinoa, the grain that seems to have captured the imagination of health conscious people the world over. Did you know though, that Quinoa is actually an ‘ancient’ grain. This means that it was among the first grains that human beings learned to cultivate. Indeed in the Peruvian highlands that quinoa is native to, people have been consuming it for 4 millennia. Quinoa, often referred to as the ‘mother grain,’ offers exceptional health benefits and nutritional value. This grain was the lifeblood of the Incan civilisation. Subsequent cultures including the Maya, Aztecs and other South and Meso-American tribes also subsisted on this robust grain. In modern parlance Quinoa has been praised for its numerous health and nutritional benefits. In this post, we will explore Quinoa: Health Benefits and Nutritional Value, a grain that has fascinated health enthusiasts worldwide.
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Nutritional Value of Quinoa.
As a grain Quinoa has been consumed for thousands of years in South and Central America. However its status as a health food is fairly recent. Quinoa has been dubbed as a superfood. This is in part due to its high nutritional value. Quinoa is gluten free and easy to digest. According to Healthline, it is an excellent source of minerals, such as iron, manganese, copper, folate and zinc. It is also quite a good source of plant based protein.
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It is an excellent source of flavonoids
Flavonoids are plant based antioxidants. They help regulate body processes and protect the organs from free radical oxidant damage. Quinoa is particularly high in 2 such flavonoids including Quercetin and Kaempferol. Both these flavonoid compounds have been shown to have excellent health benefits and are proven antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-cancer agents.
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An excellent source of dietary fibre
Quinoa is known to be an excellent source of grain based fibre. It has higher concentration of fibre than any other grain. In a study it was found that a 100 gm serving of Quinoa contained anywhere between 10 – 16 gm of dietary fibre. This makes it excellent for digestion and regulation of metabolism.
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A stable source of plant protein with all essential amino acids
Quinoa is regarded as a complete protein. It contains all 9 essential amino acids that many plant based options lack. This means that vegans and vegetarians in particular should co-opt Quinoa as an essential part of their diet. Protein is responsible for the development of repair of muscle tissue and bone health. Quinoa therefore is also recommended to athletes, fitness enthusiasts and those with an active lifestyle.
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Quinoa has a low glycemic index and helps in blood glucose control / regulation
Foods that have a high glycemic index, increase the level of blood sugar quickly. Quinoa has a glycemic index of 53 which is low and is therefore excellent in helping regulate blood glucose levels. This makes it an excellent alternative for diabetics.
Quinoa is an excellent choice on three fronts, health, taste, and nutritional benefits. At Chenab Gourmet we source the world’s finest Quinoa from Peru and bring it to you under the Sol brand of Latin American foods. From white, red and black to tricolour Quinoa, begin your exploration of this excellent grain with us today.
Isvaari White Bold Quinoa
₹140.00 – ₹386.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageSol Authentic Peruvian Black Quinoa
₹239.00 – ₹566.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageSol Authentic Peruvian Tricolor Quinoa
₹211.00 – ₹544.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageSol Authentic Peruvian White Quinoa
₹202.00 – ₹536.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page