This 'superfood' has staying power
Quinoa has seen a resurgence in popularity over the last few years, even being crowned a ‘superfood’. But this grain, grown for its edible seeds, is no passing fad. It has been around for thousands of years, known in the Inca Empire as the ‘Mother of all grains’ and they were onto a good thing. Quinoa has numerous health benefits as well as a mild, nutty taste that makes it super versatile when cooking. It is super simple to cook and can be easily substituted into many dishes, making it a great option if you are looking to diversify your diet.
So what are the benefits?
Quinoa contains a complete protein, which means that it contains all the essential amino acids we need to keep ourselves healthy. Unfortunately, our bodies don’t produce all these amino acids on their own, that’s why it’s so important to make sure you are eating a diverse range of whole foods in your diet. This makes quinoa a great choice for vegetarians and vegans as it is usually animal products that contain complete proteins.
Quinoa is also a healthy source of iron for plant based eaters or as a meat alternative for those meat eaters wanting to switch it up every now and again. Iron plays an extremely important role in keeping our red blood cells in tip top shape.
Want to know about fibre? Well, good news – quinoa also has a high soluble fibre content. In fact, it’s almost twice as high as most grains!
Quinoa is also naturally gluten free and has higher levels of healthy compounds, like folates, than other gluten free grains.
Convinced? Try it in our zesty quinoa salad next time you're in or swap out your rice for quinoa next time you're cooking.
