7 Benefits of Quinoa Seeds- the Mother of All Grains
Quinoa is not a new thing. For eons, people in South America have been cultivating this grain. Inca and their descendants used to eat quinoa seeds as part of their staple diet. However, in recent times, quinoa is becoming quite prevalent as it is naturally gluten-free, and the benefits of quinoa are impressive.
If you go out for a salad, you will find it challenging to get one that doesn't have cooked quinoa seeds in the salad. It is becoming so popular in many westernized countries that people replace their rice with quinoa seeds. Also, the benefits of quinoa for weight loss are ample too.
However, if you are trying this seed for the first time, there may be confusion in your mind. You may wonder, is it another fad diet? Or does quinoa have some actual proven benefits? Happy to say, it is the latter, and in this blog, we are discussing the benefits of quinoa that you can enjoy.
7 Benefits of quinoa seeds
1. Quinoa seeds are gluten-free
One of the best benefits of quinoa seeds is that it is naturally free of gluten. Many people have celiac disease or are intolerant to gluten. For them, the alternative to gluten is corn or rice, or other gluten-free grains. Out of all available grains, quinoa is the best, as the benefits of quinoa exceed everything else. When you replace your white rice with quinoa, you are eating a dish that provides your body with protein, iron, fiber, and calcium. Thus, you eat a balanced dish that is also gluten-free.
Also, there are so many things that you can add to quinoa seeds to make them rich and delicious.
2. It is a great source of plant-based protein and amino acids
Our body requires protein to function well and stay fit. It also needs nine essential amino acids for proper functioning, which the body does not make. Fortunately, quinoa has all nine amino acids and 8 grams worth of protein per 100 grams. It makes it a complete protein package that is also plant-based. Thus, the benefits of quinoa for weight loss are ample, as it keeps you full and retains muscle while losing fat.
3. It has a low glycemic index value
Foods with low GI value are better for your health as they do not raise your blood sugar levels. When you consume a food high in GI value, like sugar, it raises the blood sugar level extremely high quickly before falling. Thus, your energy levels are all haywire.
Benefits of quinoa include lasting energy due to low GI value, which is sustainable for your health.
4. Quinoa has a high concentration of minerals
Minerals like zinc, magnesium, and iron are essential for our bodies. When your diet doesn't have enough magnesium, you suffer from headaches, fatigue, insomnia, muscle cramps, diabetes, and more. An iron deficiency can lead to anemia and low levels of RBCs. Low RBC levels imply that your body will be slow in fighting infections.
Fortunately, quinoa has enough minerals, especially iron and magnesium. When you eat quinoa daily, you get multiple benefits of quinoa for weight loss and maintaining a healthy body.
5. It aids weight loss
The benefits of quinoa for weight loss are multiple. As we mentioned above, it has high protein content, which keeps you full for a long time. Other than this, it has enough insoluble fiber, which can again increase the feeling of satiety in you. That is why many experts recommend eating quinoa for breakfast.
Another benefit of this mother of all grain is its ability to increase metabolism. It, in turn, helps decrease food cravings and calorie intake, thus, supporting weight loss.
If you are a vegan or vegetarian, include quinoa seeds in your diet for better and quicker weight loss.
6. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is high in antioxidants too
Quinoa is a plant-based food rich in plant compounds known as flavonoids. Two of the flavonoids make the benefits of quinoa even richer. These plant-based compounds have anti-inflammatory properties, which works as antioxidants in our body. Thus, they support the body in fighting excessive free radicals. These free radicals can increase your chances of many chronic diseases, including cancer. Thus enjoying quinoa in a salad or the main course can give you more than just vitamins and minerals.
7. It is a rich source of lysine
For your skin, the benefits of quinoa seeds are impressive. It is one grain with a high amount of lysine, an amino acid. It is responsible for building carnitine, which most body cell requires for tissue repairing and growth.
It helps restore your skin, and vitamin B helps with dark spots and other signs of aging. Also, lysine helps store fat and burn it into energy, helping you stay active, alert, and energetic.
How to eat quinoa seeds?
One of the major benefits of quinoa seeds as per us is that you can cook them easily and in many forms. There are three types of quinoa seeds available- red, white, and black. All three cooks the same way:
- Take 1 cup quinoa
- Take 2 cups of water and let the water come to a boil.
- Once it starts boiling, add quinoa to it and let it cook (just like rice).
- Since quinoa is bland and a bit bitter, you can introduce many flavors to it to make it spicy and flavorsome. For instance, quinoa vegetable pulao is a great dish. Just make vegetable rice without the rice by replacing it with quinoa.
- Cooked quinoa even goes well with any salad you like, adding texture and nutrients along the way.
- Replace your roti flour with quinoa flour to make chapati.
Wrapping up, quinoa seeds are versatile. You can use them in the main course or salads. Or make quinoa oatmeal for weight loss or even make a protein bar for snacking. In any form, you will get the benefits of quinoa.
Note: introduce it gradually to your diet. Also, never eat it in massive quantities per day.