Quinoa - what is it and what are its benefits for the body?
A healthy diet should be varied! With easy access to so many products from all over the world, you can break down the pleasant taste of your current diet, but also provide your body with an additional source of many valuable nutrients. Quinoa is a good example. Find out what it is and what are its benefits for the body.
What is quinoa?
Peruvian rice or quinoa is a plant native to South America that is classified as a false grain. Although their seeds contain large amounts of starch, unlike other grain products, they are gluten-free. Quinoa seeds are very small and when cooked they look like fluffy oatmeal like semolina.
What are the benefits of quinoa for the body?
The biggest advantage of Peruvian rice is that it is rich in many valuable nutrients. People who want to maintain a healthy and varied diet can use quinoa as an addition to their existing meals. This has incredible benefits for the body, especially in terms of maintaining optimal health. What nutrients are in quinoa seeds?
Quinoa is an important source of antioxidants from the flavonoid group. Substances such as quercetin and kaempferol help the immune system to function properly and support the body in fighting harmful oxygen radicals. The cells thus benefit from additional protection against oxidative stress that, for example, accelerates the aging process.
Another important benefit for the body is that quinoa is a complete protein source. The protein contained in quinoa is extremely rich in valuable amino acids, including a complex of exogenous compounds (including BCAA, tryptophan). Thanks to this, the addition of Peruvian rice can be useful in maintaining muscle mass, as well as being a valuable alternative to dairy and animal products, for example in vegetarian and vegan diets.
We should not forget that quinoa also contains valuable fatty acids. These are mainly linoleic, linolenic and oleic acids, which provide an incredibly large number of benefits for the body. In particular, these compounds provide valuable support for lipid metabolism and the maintenance of optimal triglyceride levels.
Gluten deficiency may benefit people with gluten intolerance and celiac disease. Dietitians and nutritionists advise that small portions of quinoa do not pose any risk of digestive upset.