Quinoa - A Super Wonder Food

Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-WAH) is a super food and I wonder if you have tried it?  Easy to cook, (15 min.) it is a powerhouse of nutrition and very versatile.  It's gluten-free too!  It's great for weight loss and packed in protein.  That alone is fantastic because here is a protein that doesn't come from animals or dairy.  It is easily digested and it's a complex carb, the good kind, that does not quickly convert sugar to fat - will help you feel full and not upset blood sugar levels.  It has been identified as one of the world's healthiest foods - yes I didn't say Wonder Food for nuthin'.

Quinoa, while technically not a grain, is similar to whole grains which have been dmonstrated to reduce high blood pressure, prevent heart failure because they slow the speed of arterial plaque and may even help to remove plaque build up in the arteries.  It is rich in magnesium (most people have a shortage of that!) and phytonutrients which are thought to be responsible for protection against a variety of diseases.

The ancient Incas called quinoa "the mother grain" for a reason.  The whole food was thought to promote healthy pregnancy, and  enhance a mother's milk.  Quinoa is rich in the amino acid histadine, which cannot be formed by combinations of nutrients and instead must be provided directly in the diet.  Histadine is considered an essential amino acid in children because it is necessary for human development. For children this is a great food, in lieu of rice when they start eating solids because it has better nutrients. It is almost always organic, full of fiber, iron and calcium.

The Incas also found that only quinoa was powerful enough to sustain their bodies and provide them with the stamina, strength and energy required to perform endurance activities.  (Sounds good, doesn't it?)  The Inca armies would march for days - even weeks - at altitutdes about 12,000 ft. consuming absolutely no animal protein.  Their only source of nutrition and energy cam from a mixture of quinoa and fat which they called "war balls".  I guess this was probably more effective than MRE's of today's armies!

There are times, when I stumble across things like quinoa, that I wonder why we don't pay  more attention to GOOD foods, the power foods, that were so life-sustaining to ancient cultures.  This is one of the best in terms of non-animal, gluten-free protein!  We could do well to farm it here as it is so easy to grow in marginal conditions but most of the quinoa here comes from South America.

If we want to get really technical about quinoa, although it appears a grain it is actually the fruit of a broadleaf plant in the same family as spinach and beets and is classified as a "pseudocereal".  It is higher in calcium and iron than either rice, corn, wheat, barley or oats.

You can find quinoa in most grocery stores today, without having to go to Whole Foods or speciality health stores.  It comes in boxes in a a variety of colors - red, black, white or golden.  I haven't noticed any taste difference so the color is strictly your preference as the nutritional values vary so slightly it's not a worry.  Quinoa flakes can be used instead of oat flakes but are harder to find.  Quinoa flour is also available, and most often has the same fine texture as regular all-purpose flours.  I bought some but have yet to try it for baking anything.  Let me know if you have and share your experience.

Quinoa is small, like a coucous, fluffs up when cooked and it's really kind of cute.  Use it in place of rice and pastas - it's great as a base for casseroles, added to soup, salads or even eat it as you would oatmeal, with fruit and nuts.  You can cook up a batch of it - it keeps in the fridge about a week - and use it in by itself for cereal or add to your dishes all week. 

I bought a quinoa cookbook  (just because I'm a book hog)  but there are tons of great recipes on line and I tend to use those more.  I hope if you haven't made friends with the little quinoa, that this post will encourage you to try it.  It's a powerhouse, a super food, quick and easy to cook, inexpensive and versatile.  A wonder!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

p.s.  Wednesday of this week I will be guest posting on a cool website Telling It Like It Is - stop by http://www.tellinitlikeitis.net