Health Benefits of Quinoa

If you’ve been eating brown rice with just about every meal lately because you heard it was one of the healthiest grains to consume, it’s time to add more variety into the mix. While brown rice is definitely healthy, quinoa is its healthier cousin and is actually a seed – not a grain. But don’t let that fool you, this energy packed food delivers a powerful nutritional punch to those who consume it.

Let’s take a closer look into what this super food has to offer.

Did You Know? 

·       Quinoa is one of the only high energy carbohydrate sources that is also a complete protein source. This makes it an ideal option for those who struggle to get enough protein on a day to day basis or who are using a vegetarian diet plan.

·       Quinoa offers a very high concentration of phytonutrients, which are antioxidants that help to prevent free radical damage.

·       Quinoa can help to reduce the level of inflammation in the body, helping those who deal with chronic inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.

·       This seed even offers a very small amount of omega 3 fats, which is an essential fatty acid that most people aren’t getting enough of in their diet plan.

.      Consuming quinoa on a regular basis may help to decrease your overall cholesterol levels, improving heart health in the process.

·       Appears to provide extra benefits in the form of colon cancer reduction, so anyone concerned about that will definitely want to include this food more often.

Superstar Super Nutrients

Quinoa is a great source for the following superstar super nutrients:  Manganese, Tryptophan, Magnesium, Folate,  Phosphorus

How Quinoa Can Help With Weight Loss

Quinoa is a great food for those who are seeking weight loss results because it is a good source of carbohydrate energy, which can be put to use during your exercise sessions. Because it’s a complete source of protein as well, it tends to be a great option for those who really struggle to get in sufficient amounts of lean protein on a day to day basis and who may risk lean muscle mass loss while on a lower calorie diet plan.

These benefits combined with the dietary fiber in quinoa to help slow down the speed of digestion and keep your appetite in check make it a perfect option for keeping your body weight on track.

It can be served up just about any way you’d use brown rice, so there’s no reason not to get this food into your diet today.

What have you learned about Quinoa today?  Let me hear from you by leaving a comment in the comment box below 🙂