The South American Indian tribes were the first to know about the unique nutritional properties of cereals. Unpretentious and high-yielding cereal often saved the Indians from hunger in lean years.
In Europe, cereals appeared in a relatively recent time, so few people know its appearance, but to an even lesser extent, consumers have information about the beneficial qualities and its value as a low-calorie, but nutritious product.
What does quinoa look like and what does it taste like?
In appearance, the fruits, unusual for us, are similar to buckwheat, varying in color from white to brown and almost black.
The plant stem itself, which has round leaves and large clusters of seeds, grows to a meter in size. Although cereals are considered cereals, they are actually fruits.
The quinoa porridge is similar to rice in taste and may have a slightly bitter taste due to the increased presence of saponin.
Bitterness can be easily eliminated by washing the product in water, but it should be remembered that at the same time a certain amount of useful substances will be lost, which indicate the undeniable benefits of grains for the health and harmony of the body.
Krupa quinoa - benefits for the human body
Modern food cannot boast of sufficient nutrient content, which forces us to look for foods with a high content of healthy components.
One of them is quinoa cereal, the benefits of which are confirmed by the following qualities:
- contains an increased amount of vitamins and minerals;
- a significant amount of protein is present;
- large amino acid set;
- dishes made from quinoa have a low calorie content, with high energy output;
- gluten is absent, which makes the product hypoallergenic;
- fiber content is high.
Therefore, the fruits of this plant are especially recommended by nutritionists and nutritionists.
Nowadays, not every meal serves as a complete source of energy. But quinoa, in addition to containing vitamins, minerals and fiber, acts as a full energy supplier. Therefore, we can say with confidence that quinoa cereal, whose benefits are obvious, should be included in the diet of both adults and children.
Quinoa contains a complete balanced protein with a rich composition of amino acids, which gives undeniable advantages over other plants.
In terms of its vitamin and mineral composition, the product ranks first among all known cereals. The iron content is twice its amount in wheat, and the phosphorus content is three times its mineral composition in rice, not inferior to several varieties of fish.
But the main advantage of cereal can be considered the fact that it is able to almost completely absorbed by the body.
What is the main composition of quinoa fruits
Amino acids and proteins
The human body is not able to produce essential amino acids, which are the building blocks in the production of its own protein, so it must be consumed to the right extent with food, which is why it is so important to eat foods enriched with them in full.
Lysine, to a large extent contained in fruits, is essential for calcium metabolism, helping to prevent bone growth retardation, hair loss, depression and lack of appetite. The content of tryptophan, quinoa seeds surpass even milk. This amino acid is known to be involved in the synthesis of serotonin, the hormone of joy.
Dishes from unusual quinoa grains in terms of protein content (20% of the total composition) stand out significantly from the rest. Therefore, the product is especially necessary for:
- vegetarianism
- rehabilitation period after illness;
- pregnancy and lactation;
- in the middle and adolescence in children.
Doctors working with vegetarian followers and nutritionists confirm the benefits of quinoa, a cereal that is unique in composition and similar in nutritional properties to milk.
Vitamins
Grain, in terms of vitamin content, surpasses many cereals and potatoes. So, they include: vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B3, B5, B9.
But since they can be destroyed during heat treatment, it is better to steam quinoa with hot water, rinsing and soaking first, then covering it with a towel.
Mineral composition
The minerals that make up cereals are more bioavailable and better absorbed than substances contained in synthetic additives and preparations. In a sufficient dose, cereal contains: iron, magnesium, calcium, copper, manganese and potassium.
Quinoa Krupa - Health Benefits
It can be safely reckoned with products that have healing properties of a wide spectrum of action. It helps to lower cholesterol levels and increase the production of bile secretion.
All of the above facts about canoe cereal and its benefits indicate that it is simply necessary for vegetarians, as well as people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and excess weight.
Krupa quinoa - harm to the human body
Although the enormous benefits of this product are known, you should not discount the danger that it may pose to some groups of people. Anyone who has a small body weight can get significant poisoning with saponins contained in the fruits due to the high dose of the concentration of the substance in the blood. But if you know that they are only in the seed coat, pre-treatment can completely eliminate this danger.
To neutralize the harm from quinoa cereals, it should be placed in a sieve lined with gauze and doused with boiling water, then washed with plenty of water. During the washing process, the seeds should be rubbed with your hands, removing the remnants of the fruit shell.
It should be noted that when buying a packaged product, you don’t have to worry about its safety - usually manufacturers pack the already cleaned quinoa cereal, minimizing the harm.
But nevertheless, it is not recommended for people in the following risk groups:
Patients with gout. When establishing this diagnosis, experts recommended limiting foods high in protein. But you do not need to completely remove cereals from the diet, you can simply limit consumption. Small portions of it will not hurt.
People suffering from gallstone disease. This is due to the fact that the quinoa has a pronounced choleretic effect. This can move small stones into the ducts, clogging them and causing severe pain.
Quinoa cereal is harmful to children under two years old. Saponin poisoning can occur, since in children of this age the intestines and liver are not yet sufficiently developed.
Patients suffering from kidney disease. Oxalates are present in the grains, and this can increase kidney stones in size.
And although the quinoa cereal brings much more benefit than harm, the overseas guest, known since the time of the Incas, in modern times is not often present on our table, which does not detract from its useful and nutritious qualities proved by practical use.
The crop has not yet been placed on a wide agricultural flow, therefore, is not subject to gene selection, which guarantees the food safety of a product grown in mountainous regions.
