Quinoa, a True Nutritional Treasure (segment 3)

One of the reasons my wife and I decided to include Quinoa (or quinua) in our diet is that we fell in love with it’s flavor and texture in addition to the incredible health benefits provided by this simple plant.

Small in size but extremely grandiose in benefits to your body, Quinoa was first cultivated by the Andean indigenous peoples long ago. In recent times however, it has become quite popular and accessible in many markets.

The United Nations has declared 2013 the “International Year of Quinoa” (IYQ) recognizing that Andean indigenous peoples, through their traditional knowledge and practices of living well, in harmony with Mother Earth and nature, have maintained, controlled, protected and preserved quinoa as food for present and future generations.

The Gold of the Incas

The Quinoa that grows 3,000 meters above sea level provided sustenance to the inhabitants of these high planes, allowing them to prosper in the difficult living conditions that exist at those heights.

For the natives of the Andean region of Peru and Bolivia, the seeds of Quinoa were more valuable than gold. In fact, Quinoa was called “the gold of the Incas”, because according to tradition, warriors derived their valor and resistance from this food.

According to Incan legend, the first quinoa seeds were received from the heavens by a sacred bird. Once per year, only the Chief of the Incas, girded with a golden sword planted the first seeds of the season. Together with corn and potatoes, quinoa, which has been cultivated for some 5,000 years is belived to have formed the base diet of the Andean people.

A Complete Protein

Due to its amino acid content, quinoa is considered one of the most protein-rich grains available. Free of gluten, its seed offers super nutritional value, taste and versatility. Aside from just being high in protein, the protein content in quinoa is also complete, meaning it includes all the essential amino acids needed for a healthy body. This makes quinoa an excellent choice for vegetarians who are concerned about getting sufficient protein from a plant diet. The quinoa seed is loaded with the lysine amino acid, which is essential for the growth and rebuilding of body tissue. It is also rich in calcium and iron, and is a relatively decent source of vitamin E as well as some of the B vitamins. In addition to protein, quinoa is an excellent source of magnesium and magnesium phosphate.

Easy to Cook

One of the keys in using quinoa is washing it well before cooking it. Quinoa seeds are covered with saponin, a resin-type substance that is extremely bitter and forms a soapy solution in water. The Saponin must be removed through proper washing. In our case, we let the seeds soak in water for about 15 minutes and then rinsed them with clean water using a colander.

Quinoa cooks in about 15 minutes, so in reality, it is quite simple to use. Since it yields a large amount when cooked, you should plan on using half a cup for two people and use two parts water to one part of quinoa. This wonderful grain, quinoa, can be used in a variety of recipes and due to its naturally neutral taste, it blends and easily takes on the flavors of other foods. End Share This code

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