The Full Story
About
QUINOA
Quinoa Is An Ancient Food
It originated with the Inkas in the mountains of Bolivia, Chile and Peru. It's been at the forefront in these regions for 5,000 years. It was a staple for the Inkas and is still a prominent food source for their indigenous descendants, the Quechua and Aymara people. It was a sacred crop to the Incas who called it the mother of all grains or chisaya mama. The legend states that the Incan emperor would ceremoniously plant the first quinoa seeds every year.
Dubbed as a “super crop”
because its believed to
remedy world hunger
Archaeological evidence in the Ayacucho region of Peru indicates that the domestication of quinoa began 5000 years before Christ. There are also archaeological finds consisting of quinoa seeds in ancient tombs in Tarapaca, Calama and Arica, and other regions of Peru.
The seed is often labeled as a superfood since it is not only gluten-free but also contains more protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber than the usual grains and seeds.
Quinoa is incredibly nutritious and a particularly great addition to any healthy diet. The UN even explicitly named the year 2013 the “International Year of Quinoa” in honor of the superfood.
Here is a list of the top seven health benefits of quinoa:
IT IS GLUTEN-FREE
Since quinoa is not a real grain, it is naturally gluten-free. For that reason it a great option for anyone with gluten sensitivity or intolerance.
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IT IS HIGH IN FIBER
Another fantastic benefit is its richness in fiber. One cup of the seed contains roughly five grams of fiber, which is around twice as much as most grains. Fiber promotes good digestion and can help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol.
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IT IS PROTEIN-RICH
Evidently, quinoa is one of the most protein-rich foods with about eight grams per cup. Since it is a complete protein it contains all nine amino acids that our bodies need.
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IT CONTAINS IRON
The seed has a dense concentration of iron. In one cup you can find around three milligrams of the mineral. The recommended daily intake of iron ranges between eight and 18 milligrams. We especially need iron for our hemoglobin production.
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IT IS HIGH IN MANGANESE
Quinoa is also very high in antioxidants. In essence, antioxidants help protect our cells and red blood cells from damage by free radicals. The recommended daily intake is 2.3 milligrams. One cup already contains around 1.2 milligrams.
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IT IS HIGH IN MAGNESIUM
Magnesium plays an important role in muscle recovery, controlling blood sugar, and the formation of healthy bones and teeth. While 300-400 milligrams are recommended as a healthy daily intake, one cup of quinoa already contains 118 milligrams of magnesium.
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IT CONTAINS LYSINE
Lastly, 100g of quinoa contains 239 mg of lysine, so 10% of your daily recommended intake is already covered. This amino acid is essential for tissue growth and repair.
(Source: PeruTravel)
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