One of the most popular health foods right now, quinoa has taken over the world by storm. 

However, this seemingly new superfood isn’t new at all. It was an important crop for the Inca Empire and was even referred to as the ‘mother of all grains’. 

This food was always popular in South America, but has only recently started ‘trending’. 

From having high nutritional value to being gluten-free, by now, there are hundreds of health claims made by the people about it. 

But how many of them are actually true? 

Let’s find out! 

1. High Nutritional Value 

There’s no doubt in the fact that quinoa has a high nutritional value. About 185 grams (one cup) of cooked quinoa can help you get lots of vitamins and minerals. It will give you manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, folate, copper, iron, Vitamin B1, B2 and B6. 

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It will also give you 8 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, 39 grams of carbs and 4 grams of fat. Overall, it’s a balanced source of nutrients and is definitely superior to rice in terms of nutritional value. 

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2. Complete Protein Source 

Protein sources that have all the nine essential amino acids are referred to as complete proteins. People often believe that vegetarian and vegan diets lack complete protein sources. However, quinoa is one of the best plant protein sources for this reason and is perfect for vegan or vegetarian diets. 

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3. Relatively Low Glycemic Index 

Glycemic index of a food is measured by the spike in blood sugar it gives. A higher index can increase your blood sugar levels and can even cause unhealthy weight gain. Most carbohydrates have a high glycemic index, however, quinoa has a relatively low glycemic index. 

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It’s great for people who eat carbs, moderately but may not be good for people following a low-carb diet. 

4. It Is Gluten-Free 

Gluten intolerance is very commonly noticed amongst some people and going gluten-free means avoiding most of your everyday basic foods like bread, pasta, etc. Going quinoa alternatives is a great way of tackling this problem. 

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5. May Help In Lowering Cholesterol

A recent study on Pubmed suggested that quinoa can help in reducing liver and plasma cholesterol. There are many foods out there that can help you lower bad cholesterol levels and quinoa is definitely one of them. 

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The Bottomline 

Quinoa is also rumoured to help with weight loss but there is no evidence to validate this claim. Even though it may or may not help with weight loss, it is still a very healthy food to add to your diet.

Have you tried it? Let us know in the comments below. 

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