Quinoa is a plant-based grain with numerous benefits. Incorporating this grain into your diet can help prevent various diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer. Understanding the benefits of quinoa can help us utilize it in our diet and maximize the consumption of the vitamins and minerals present in this superfood. In the following section, we will delve into the properties of quinoa and its impact on our health.
What is Quinoa and What are Its Benefits?
You may have heard that vegetarians and vegans substitute meat and poultry with plant-based grains and vegetables. One of the plant-based grains that vegetarians and vegans worldwide use is quinoa. Quinoa has a high nutritional value and is rich in protein, vitamin B, vitamin E, fiber, amino acids, phosphorus, iron, and other nutrients.
Adding quinoa to your diet is an excellent way to increase your daily intake of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. This grain is packed with vitamins and minerals and is a complete protein that contains all nine essential amino acids needed by the body.
This is one of the unique features of this grain, making it a valuable source of protein, especially for individuals whose diet is primarily plant-based. Quinoa is particularly rich in essential amino acids such as lysine, methionine, and cysteine, and has a wide range of beneficial plant compounds, including saponins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and betacyanins.
The Benefits of Quinoa in Traditional Medicine
One of the nutrient-rich grains in traditional medicine is quinoa. This plant-based superfood has a moderate nature, and therefore, individuals with different temperaments can benefit from its high properties.
It is interesting to note that the benefits of quinoa are effective not only for adults but also for children. The benefits of quinoa for children include aiding in their growth, helping treat constipation, and providing complex and useful carbohydrates, which help increase energy levels in children and adults. As mentioned earlier, quinoa is also suitable for facial skin and eliminating blemishes due to its vitamin B content.
“Benefits of Quinoa for Health
Quinoa is a nutritious grain with many benefits for the body’s health. In the following, we will examine the benefits of quinoa for the body’s health:
- Weight Loss
For weight loss, it is necessary to increase the body’s metabolism, which can be achieved by consuming quinoa. Quinoa increases the body’s metabolism and reduces the individual’s appetite for food and snacks. As a result, quinoa can be used for weight loss.
- Quinoa contains a lot of fiber, which makes the individual feel full quickly when consuming food.
- Also, quinoa has a low glycemic index (GI), meaning it has complex carbohydrates that the body uses energy to convert into simple carbohydrates. This causes the body to feel full faster when consuming it and need fewer calories.
Since quinoa is rich in dietary fiber and protein, it is a suitable combination for fat burning that leads to an increase in the body’s metabolism. As a result, it reduces appetite, and in turn, reduces calorie intake. Replacing traditional grains such as rice or wheat with quinoa can be a small change that provides more protein and fiber and helps you achieve your weight loss goals.
In addition, quinoa contains 20-hydroxyecdysone, a compound that helps control weight. Research shows that this compound burns more calories and helps control weight. It also causes individuals to absorb less fat from their diet.
- Rich in Magnesium
The body needs magnesium for 300 types of enzymatic reactions. Magnesium deficiency in the body leads to diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and migraines. Also, as people age, the body needs more magnesium; therefore, it is better for individuals to use nutrients such as quinoa, which contain a high amount of magnesium, to meet the body’s magnesium needs. It should be noted that the amount of magnesium in one cup of cooked quinoa is 118 milligrams.
- Rich in Iron
The main element in hemoglobin in the blood is iron. Iron increases the body’s muscle metabolism and provides the energy needed by the body. By consuming one cup of cooked quinoa, individuals receive 2.76 milligrams of iron, which improves the performance of the body’s systems. In addition, consuming this plant grain helps fuel the body. In recent studies, substituting quinoa for bread and pasta has been shown to significantly reduce blood sugar, triglycerides, and insulin levels.
- Contains Folate
Pregnant women should consume foods that contain a vitamin called folate to prevent nervous system problems in their babies. Folate is a vitamin that prevents depression in individuals. It also helps in building and repairing DNA, growth, division, and proper functioning of cells and the production of some proteins in the body. Quinoa is one of the food sources that contain folate (19% RDI).”
- Anti-inflammatory Properties
It is interesting to know that quinoa can reduce inflammation in the body caused by various diseases. This plant grain reduces inflammation in the body by producing butyrate.
- Heart Health
By consuming quinoa, you can maintain your heart health. This plant caviar reduces blood cholesterol levels and prevents cardiovascular diseases. Also, due to its alpha-linolenic acid content, quinoa prevents the onset of atherosclerosis.
- Diabetes Prevention
If you want to prevent type 2 diabetes by consuming food, quinoa is a good option. There are various factors that help control blood sugar. For example, the low glycemic index of this plant grain helps control blood sugar.
Also, the amount of fiber in quinoa helps regulate blood sugar levels in individuals. Interestingly, consuming just 16 grams of fiber from whole grains per day is associated with a 33% reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.
- Suitable for Treating Anemia
One of the benefits of quinoa for health is treating anemia. Iron deficiency in the body leads to anemia. Anemia also leads to the onset of various diseases. Therefore, it is better to prevent anemia by consuming iron-rich foods such as quinoa. To do this, you can make quinoa salad with your favorite foods and enjoy it.
- Digestive Aid
Riboflavin in quinoa converts glutamic acid to glutamine, which strengthens the mucus in the stomach and improves digestion. The fiber in this plant grain helps absorb nutrients in the small intestine and prevents digestive problems such as constipation. Also, the presence of vitamin B in quinoa helps produce hydrochloric acid and improves digestion in the body.
- Beneficial for Bodybuilding
Quinoa contains a high amount of carbohydrates that produce energy in the body. Athletes and bodybuilders can use it to provide the energy their body needs. Also, the presence of specific amino acids in quinoa accelerates the muscle-building process in bodybuilders.
- Treatment of Hypothyroidism
It is interesting to know that people with hypothyroidism can improve their condition by consuming quinoa, which is rich in nutrients. Quinoa improves the thyroid gland’s function in the body. This grain is full of useful nutrients and antioxidants that reduce the abnormal secretion of thyroid hormones.
- Prevention of Hemorrhoids
Due to its high fiber content, quinoa increases bowel movements and facilitates defecation. Using quinoa to facilitate defecation prevents the occurrence of hemorrhoids in individuals.
- Rich in Antioxidants
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals in the body and prevent the onset of many diseases. Studies have shown that quinoa is rich in antioxidants. Interestingly, consuming sprouted quinoa provides the body with even more antioxidants.
- Quinoa for Skin
– Lysine is a substance for wound healing that the body cannot produce, but the good news is that quinoa can provide the body with the necessary lysine.
– Quinoa also helps in the synthesis of collagen in the skin. Riboflavin is a substance that gives the skin elasticity, and by consuming food made from quinoa-based ingredients, it can be provided to the body to prevent the formation of wrinkles and lines on the skin.
– Quinoa reduces fat secretion in the skin, and for this reason, it can be used to prevent acne and skin blemishes.
– In addition to consuming quinoa as food, topical masks containing quinoa can be used for skin health. For example, a face mask made from quinoa flour, turmeric, lemon, and banana can be used for the face. Face masks made from quinoa have anti-aging and skin brightening effects.
- Quinoa for Hair
You can provide your body with the nine essential amino acids for hair growth by consuming food such as quinoa cookies, which in addition to increasing metabolism and reducing appetite, promote hair growth.
Additionally, quinoa is very high in iron and phosphorus and prevents dandruff. In addition to using quinoa as food, a quinoa-based hair mask can be made that strengthens and promotes hair growth.
- The best way to utilize the benefits of quinoa:
Every plant seed has numerous health benefits for the human body. Before consuming any food substance, it is better to have sufficient knowledge about its health benefits and effects. As previously mentioned, food items produced based on quinoa have various health benefits. You can use food items made with quinoa in your diet and take advantage of its benefits by considering your own dietary needs.
Frequently asked questions:
– What is quinoa and what are its benefits?
Quinoa is a plant seed that is rich in vitamins, fiber, amino acids, phosphorus, iron, and other nutrients.
– Can I use quinoa in traditional medicine?
Yes!
– Is consuming quinoa effective for heart health?
Yes, quinoa regulates blood circulation.
– Is quinoa effective in treating anemia?
Yes, due to the iron content in quinoa, it is effective in treating anemia.
– How should I consume quinoa?
It is better to cook quinoa and consume it with food.
– What are the harms of quinoa?
Quinoa contains a certain amount of oxalate, which disrupts the absorption of calcium and is harmful to individuals with kidney problems or those who produce oxalate kidney stones.
– What is the price of one kilogram of quinoa seeds?
The price of one kilogram of quinoa seeds is 118,750 Iranian rials.
– Is quinoa suitable for the skin?
Yes, lysine is an essential substance for skin health, and quinoa approves this substance for the body.
– What are the benefits of quinoa seeds?
Quinoa seeds have many benefits, including anti-inflammatory properties, prevention of diabetes, treatment of anemia, aiding in digestion, and more.
One of the best ways to utilize the benefits of quinoa is to include it in your diet. For this purpose, you can consume food items based on quinoa. However, there is no need to prepare new foods for this purpose. You can use food items offered by Kinofit based on quinoa. These products are all based on quinoa, and you can include quinoa in your diet with their help. Products such as quinoa cookies, puffs, various types of crostini, salafud, and more are among these products. We suggest contacting our experts for further information in this regard.
