Health Matters – an A to Z Guide to Good Health – Q is for Quinoa

Health Matters – an A to Z Guide to Good Health – Q is for Quinoa. Which you may not know much about!

Q is for Quinoa (the correct pronunciation is “keen-wah”) but not sure I ever pronounce it correctly! Quinoa is an ancient food held in high esteem by the Incas and has been cultivated for more than 5000 years. It sustained the Altiplano Indians in poor living conditions and grew at altitudes of 10,000 to 20,000 feet above sea level.

Quinoa has a fascinating history; its seeds were once considered more valuable than gold and have only in recent years been available in the USA and UK.

Quinoa is not a grain in the true sense of the word it is a seed and is a member of the Goosefoot family which includes beets, spinach, and chard. It is not a grass grain like wheat and contains no gluten which means it is more easily tolerated by people who are allergic to grains, especially anyone suffering from Celiac disease.

Quinoa can easily be described as a “Power Food” because of the following benefits:

🌾 Quinoa is a whole food and is highly nutritious; it contains carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins, minerals, and fibre.

🌾 The nutritional data on Quinoa varies but it does contain larger quantities of calcium, fat, iron, phosphorus, and B vitamins than many other grains and in an easily digestible form.

🌾 Quinoa is a complete protein containing all eight essential amino acids which makes it a good source of protein for vegetarians.

🌾 A serving of cooked Quinoa, about a cup full, has the same calcium content as two pints of milk – making it a great food for growing children.

Quinoa can be used in many dishes but must be soaked and rinsed thoroughly to remove the bitter-tasting saponin coating. It is good to have variety in our diet so if you have not tried it yet make that a goal.

Live with joy and health. 💚

Elizabeth Beetham