Quinoa and its health benefits, what are they?

Who has heard of quinoa and its benefits for our health?

You don't have to be someone who follows a healthy eating routine to get to know the protagonist of our content today.

After all, for a few years now, this food has been gaining more and more space in Brazilian homes and becoming an excellent option for those who want to acquire healthier lifestyle habits.

But, despite being quite popular, quinoa still generates a lot of doubt among the Brazilian population.

It was with this in mind that we came up with the idea for today’s content!

Throughout the text, you will learn more about this food, better understand its properties and discover the main benefits that quinoa can offer for our health!

What is quinoa?

To begin with, it is necessary to clarify that quinoa is a seed, and not a cereal, as many people may think.

And the way we prepare and consume quinoa causes the food to be confused and give the impression of cereal to the unsuspecting.

The name comes from the Incas and means “mother grain”. From there, you can already see how important this food is, right? 

Originating from the Andes Mountains, quinoa has been consumed for thousands of years by people who inhabited the region.

With a nutty flavor, the food is eaten cooked and, currently, there are versions in flakes and even flour.

This variety allows more variety for those who want to cook using the food.

Easy to find in markets and health food stores, quinoa can be found in white, black and red.

What are the main properties of quinoa?

The main reason why quinoa has become popular in recent times is its properties.

Known for being an excellent option for those looking to follow a healthy lifestyle, in this topic we will introduce you to the main properties of quinoa.

Very nutritious

To start the list of the main properties of quinoa, we have nutrition.

To show you, we prepared an 'x-ray' of a serving of quinoa. In a 100 gram serving of quinoa, we have about 368 calories, 14 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber.

And it doesn't stop there. In addition to these substances, the same portion also contains approximately 560 mg of potassium, 450 mg of phosphorus, 190 mg of magnesium, 4.7 mg of iron and 47 mg of calcium.

It has antioxidant properties

Another very important point about quinoa is its antioxidant action. 

Antioxidants are essential for our health. Antioxidants are substances that have the ability to protect cells against the effects of free radicals produced by our body.

By causing damage to cells, these free radicals can cause a series of diseases in our body. 

And the proof that quinoa stands out when it comes to this property has scientific support.

A study carried out to measure the amount of antioxidants evaluated 10 types of food – including cereals and vegetables – and the result showed that quinoa had the highest level of this substance in its composition when compared to other foods.

Rich in fiber

In addition to its antioxidant properties and all the nutrition you've already seen, quinoa is also a food that is quite rich in fiber.

Re-evaluating a 100 gram serving of quinoa, this amount can contain 10 to 15 grams of fiber.

And that is an excellent amount if we compare the serving size. 

That’s why nutrition is one of quinoa’s strong points.

It is an excellent source of minerals

In addition to the properties you have already seen, another quality of quinoa is its high level of minerals.

And among those that stand out the most are minerals such as magnesium and potassium.

Potassium, for example, is one of the vital minerals for our body, being essential for a series of functions in our body, such as muscle contractions, maintaining water balance in our body and even heart functions.

Quinoa and its benefits: discover the main ones

Now that you know more about the properties of food, it’s time to talk about another very important point – so much so that it is the central point of our text. 

Now let’s talk about quinoa and its benefits! Below, we’ve listed some of the main ones for you to learn about:

Gluten-free

This is, without a doubt, one of the main benefits of quinoa.

Remember that we mentioned that quinoa is a food widely used by those who want to lead a healthier life – and even for those who want to lose weight?

One of the main reasons for this choice is that quinoa is gluten-free.

In addition to being a great option for those who want to lose weight, quinoa is a way for those who cannot eat gluten due to some type of allergy or medical condition.

A great source of plant-based protein

This is a benefit that attracts the attention of both those who follow a protein-focused diet and those who do not consume animal protein.

Due to its properties – which we mentioned in the previous topic – the food is known to be a great source of digital protein.

It is no wonder that this is one of the main positive points of the food.

Its consumption helps combat diseases and conditions

As if the physical aspects that we have already mentioned throughout the text were not enough, quinoa and its benefits also help in fighting diseases.

Quinoa is well known for its anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antidepressant and even anticancer actions.

Is this or isn’t it a very important benefit?

Conclusion 

So, what did you think of learning a little more about quinoa and its benefits?

After learning more about this food and its properties, I'm sure you'll consider adding quinoa to your daily menu and, in this way, help make your diet healthier, more nutritious and beneficial for your body.

Did you like this content? Then take the opportunity to read it too Healthy eating for diabetics