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Ancient Seed Gains Popularity as its Discovered to Foster digestion
Quinoa burst onto the scene in 2008 – from where?
Prior to 2008 North Americans were not familiar with the term quinoa and seven years later it has become part of our vernacular.
Quinoa has been cultivated in the Andes of South America for more than 7,000 years and the Incan Empire called it the "mother of all grains." Spinach’s close cousin, quinoa is a seed of plant Chenopodium quinoa.
Fiber for digestion
Rich in fiber, quinoa is easy to digest. Adding bulk to the mass of food that leaves your stomach helps stimulate the contraction of muscles in the wall of your digestive tract. Facilitating these contractions is important to ensure food mixes with digestive enzymes in the small intestine and it fosters the absorption of nutrients into the blood stream. Fiber helps to absorb moisture and assists in the prevention of constipation.
Quinoa’s average protein content is 13g per 100g, which is higher than that of wheat (12g) and rice (6g). One cup of quinoa generally contains 5 grams of fiber. Woman are recommended to eat 25 grams of fiber daily and men 38 grams.
Quinoa is also rich in vitamin B, which supports digestion, as well as amino acids. It contains Thiamin which assists in the production of hydrochloric acid, which helps break down food. Glutamic acid is converted to glutamine in the body, which according to the Journal of Epithelial Biology and Pharmacology, is the main source of energy for cells in your intestinal tract.
The low-carb, gluten-free seed that is grown in Bolivia and Peru can be prepared just like other grains. It can be cooked as rice and quinoa flour can be used to baking. Zebra Organics offers one of the better qualities of quinoa around. Bolivian red “Heirloom Quality” organic quinoa is gourmet quality, quick to cook and easy to digest. With a rich and slightly sweet flavour, it is delicious in soups, pilafs and is also great by itself or in a side dish.
Bolivians to begin drinking quinoa
According to the Latin American Herald Tribune, Bolivia will begin producing quinoa milk from an Andean based factory on November 20, 2014. Funded by the European Union, it will be the world’s first quinoa milk plant. Three flavours of the beverage will be produced; chocolate, vanilla and strawberry and distribution will begin in nearby schools. A great alternative for those lactose intolerant, quinoa milk is high in protein and vitamins D and E. This variety of quinoa’s amino acid content is believed to assist in memory retention and its also believed to help combat osteoporosis and breast cancer.
5 years ago