8 Reasons You Should Be Eating Quinoa

Quinoa is a type of grain that is often chosen by people who are hoping to get healthier, lose weight, or simply add more whole grains to their diet. Whether you want to lose weight or increase the nutrition you consume, it is an excellent option. Here are some reasons to eat quinoa more often.

1. Quinoa is a Major Source of Protein

If you are concerned about how much protein you get in your body, then adding quinoa to your regular diet is a great idea. It is one of the most protein-rich foods you can eat, along with being healthy for a number of other ways. In just one cup of cooked quinoa, you get 8.14 grams of protein. For a high-protein diet, it is great to add alongside your other protein sources, or you can use quinoa to replace meat and still get your desired amount of protein. It also contains all nine essential amino acids, including valine, isoleucine, histidine, threonine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, methionine, lysine, and leucine.

2. It is Gluten-Free

Whether you have a gluten intolerance or you are simply trying to eat gluten-free as much as possible, eating quinoa can reduce stomach upset. Sticking to a gluten-free diet while also remaining healthy is something an issue since many foods labeled as having no gluten, making up for it by having refined starches. This isn’t going to be much better for you than the gluten. In this case, you need grains like quinoa that won’t affect your gluten intolerance, but taste delicious and are good for you.

3. There is Double the Fiber

Quinoa is also an excellent source of fiber, containing nearly double what some of the other grains have. Fiber is important for many reasons, not just making you more regular. Fiber can also help to reduce your risk for diabetes, help with high blood pressure, lower your glucose and your cholesterol, and even prevent heart disease. It is something everyone should be consuming more of, which is easy by adding quinoa to your meals regularly.

4. Quinoa is a Nutrient-Rich Food

If you are looking for grains that provide more vitamins and nutrients to your diet, quinoa is one of the best you can choose. In a cup of cooked quinoa, you not only get over 8 grams of protein, but also 5 grams of fiber, and nutrients like manganese, copper, folate, potassium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorous, and iron.

5. It Provides Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Inflammation is a leading factor to a wide range of illnesses and medical conditions, so it makes sense you would want to get as much anti-inflammatory foods in your body as possible. Quinoa happens to be an excellent source of anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce your risk for arthritis, appendicitis, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

6. You Get a Lot of Antioxidants

Another substance that is important for reducing illnesses and diseases is antioxidants. These are found in many fruits and vegetables, as well as grains like quinoa. In fact, quinoa is known to have a lot higher antioxidant content that other foods, including legumes and cereals.

7. Quinoa Has a Lot of Iron

You need to have a certain amount of iron in your body to maintain healthy red blood cells. If you feel faint often or you have ever had a doctor tell you that you’re anemic or borderline anemic, it is usually due to having low iron in your blood. Iron helps to bring oxygen to your different cells and muscles, so they are very important. Luckily, delicious quinoa is a great source of it.

8. It is Easy to Turn Into Delicious Meals

Finally, consider how easy it is to make meals with quinoa and incorporate it into your daily diet. Quinoa only takes about 15-20 minutes to make tender enough to eat. It has a rich nutty taste that complements a lot of different flavors. From having it as a side dish with chicken and vegetables, to adding some quinoa to your salad, making a quinoa and bean veggie burger, or baking with it, it is very easy to eat more of it each day.

As you can see, quinoa can provide a lot of health benefits, making it an excellent source of nutrition. Try eating quinoa on a regular basis and every day if you can.