5 Reasons You Should Make Quinoa a Part of Your Diet

Quinoa has been a rapid rising trend in the world of nutrition, and for good reason. It's numerous health benefits, ease of preparation, and versatility are certainly not understated. Although technically a seed, quinoa is classed as a whole grain. Here are 5 reasons you should incorporate quinoa into your diet:

1. Quinoa is rich in powerful antioxidants including quercetin and kaemferol. These phytonutrients (“phyto” meaning plant) assist the body in fighting free radicals (damage-causing cells), thus reducing the risk of cancer, cardiovascular, and inflammatory diseases.

2. Quinoa is one of the only plant products which contain all 9 of the essential amino acids. “Essential” meaning that our bodies don’t produce them, and we must obtain them from our food. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and responsible for the development of muscle and tissue, hormones, specific enzymes and neurotransmitters.

3. The average daily protein recommendation for women is 46 grams, and for men, is 56 grams. One cup of cooked quinoa contains 8 grams of protein. When compared to 1 cup of rice (which contains 4.3 grams of protein), quinoa solidly takes the lead.

4. At almost double the fibre content of other grains, quinoa clocks in at 5 grams of fibre per cup, which is roughly 15% of the daily recommendation of fibre intake. Meeting the target daily recommendation of fibre comes with a host of health benefits including keeping bowel movements regular, reducing blood sugar, lowering cholesterol and feeling fuller for longer.

5. Quinoa is incredibly versatile and easy to include in any diet. It cooks quickly, and stores in the fridge for up to 7 days. Quinoa makes a great addition to salads, soups, egg bites, even your morning bowl of oatmeal and baking!

As stated above, the numerous health benefits of quinoa are impactful. One thing to note however, is the natural compound on the quinoa seed known as saponins. Although some research has shown that saponins have a high antioxidant capacity, the bitter flavour can also be mildly irritating to the digestive system. Rinsing quinoa before cooking is a common practice.

Comment below your favourite way to eat quinoa!