The health benefits of QUINOA

I am a self professed quinoa lover. I'll admit it any day of the week. I just can't get enough of the stuff. It's so tasty, nutritious, and versatile! It's interesting to note that quinoa is often referred to as an ancient grain but it's actually the seed of a leafy plant related to spinach and swiss chard! It is therefore technically a pseudograin and is from the Andes mountains of Ecuador.

Here's why, nutritionally, quinoa is so wicked:
1) It has a balanced set of essential amino acids which make it a complete protein. It is a GREAT source of protein and especially perfect for vegetarians/vegans.
2) It is a whole 'grain' that is naturally gluten free - easily digestable.
3) It is very high in magnesium, a mineral with a ton of health benefits. Magnesium is great for migraines, atherosclerosis/heart disease, asthma, and relaxes your digestive system.
4) It is a great source of manganese and copper, two minerals that serve as cofactors for the superoxide dismutase enzyme. Superoxide dismutase is an antioxidant which protects your cells from free radicals.
5) It is also a fine source of iron

In terms of cooking, it takes about 1/4 the time it takes to cook rice - a mere 12 minutes!! All you need to do is rinse your quinoa, add a ratio of 1 1/2 cups of water to 1 cup of quinoa, bring to a boil, cover and reduce to medium heat for 12 minutes.

Then have fun with it!! I like to have it with every meal. It's great as a dish on it's own with red onions, cilantro, nuts (walnuts or pecans), some olive oil and lemon. If I don't finish that in a night I add it to my salad the next day!! It's great in salads and adds a nutty, creamy taste.

Give it a try...spread the love of quinoa ;)