Quinoa is a highly recommended food for everyone.. Many people will think that it is a cereal, and in reality it is very similar, but technically it is called a pseudocereal. But this is of little relevance, the important thing is to know the reasons why it is worth taking quinoa.
Quinoa has many properties and benefits, so much so that it has entered the category of superfood. This term has been coined to refer to certain foods that have a high nutritional value.
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The 12 properties and benefits of quinoa
The properties and benefits of quinoa have made it a popular food.. Although a few years ago few people had consumed quinoa, today it can be found very easily in all supermarkets and in recipes of many restaurants.
Its main added value compared to conventional cereals is that it contains all the essential amino acids, making it an excellent source of vegetable protein. This point will be explained in more detail below, along with the other properties and benefits.
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1. Contains vegetable protein
As we have advanced, eating quinoa allows to obtain protein of high biological value of vegetable origin. There are not many vegetables that offer all the essential amino acids.. These are the components we need to form human protein, and although there are many vegetable sources with amino acids, it is common that some of the essential ones are missing.
2. It provides different nutrients
Quinoa is a very interesting food at a nutritional level.. It contains carbohydrates, fats and proteins in very interesting proportions, and also contains good amounts of micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. It is therefore a good option to prepare the base of recipes that are a unique dish for lunch or dinner.
3. It is a food recommended for everyone
Not all foods can be recommended to the whole population.. Except for the smallest babies, there is practically no pathological condition that prevents eating quinoa. It is a good food for people with intestinal problems, pregnant women, sportsmen, elderly people, etc.
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4. It is a good food for diabetics
Quinoa is also a recommended food for diabetics.It is a good food for diabetics, although carbohydrates are the macronutrient it contains in greater proportion. The reason why it is recommended is that, unlike other cereals and food products manufactured at industrial level, the glycemic index is low; since it is not refined and contains fiber, blood sugar does not shoot up.
5. It takes care of your bones
Eating quinoa has benefits for bones. Its properties when it comes to taking care of bones are linked to the fact that it contains minerals that participate in the formation and maintenance of bone tissue. It is a food that contains more than three times as much calcium as most cereals.
6. Combats the onset of cardiovascular diseases
Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of mortality in the world.. Eating foods that help us fight the onset of such diseases is very advantageous, and quinoa is one of them. Phytochemical substances such as linoleic acid can improve cholesterol and triglyceride levels, as well as fight against the formation of plaques that lead to atherosclerosis.
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7. It is a good food for the brain
Some of the nutrients in quinoa make this food an ally for the brain.. Among the properties and benefits of quinoa stands out its ability to promote the proper functioning of the nervous system, becoming a recommended food for certain conditions. The vitamins of the B group and different minerals are responsible for this.
8. It has anti-inflammatory properties
Quinoa contains phytochemicals that fight inflammation.. Internal inflammation in different organs of the body is common in many people, and its cause responds to a combination of stress, lack of sleep or poor diet. Substances such as flavonoids counteract the inflammation that damages our body.
9. It is an antioxidant
Quinoa also has antioxidant properties as a great health benefit.. It is common for free radicals to appear in our body, especially if our lifestyle is not the healthiest. That is why it is advisable to eat foods such as quinoa, and is that antioxidants can effectively fight against oxidation.
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10. It fights aging
The fact that quinoa is an antioxidant prevents aging.. Consolidating a healthy and balanced diet with foods with as many properties and benefits as quinoa helps to maintain youth and vitality. It is very important to eat real food, especially if it can fight cellular oxidation.
11. Increases collagen production
Quinoa promotes the production of collagen.and this is especially due to an amino acid: lysine. Lysine is an essential amino acid of which cereals are very deficient, but it has very good properties and benefits. It serves especially to produce collagen, which is very important for tissues such as skin or joints.
12. It takes care of the hair
Some personal hygiene products already incorporate quinoa in their composition.. This is because they contain substances that improve the health of the skin but also of the hair. It is for this reason that there are cosmetics, shower gels and shampoos containing quinoa. Aplicarlos fortalece estos tejidos, si bien comer quinoa sigue siendo una buena opción.
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Referencias bibliográficas
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Abugoch, J.L.E. (2009). Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.): composition, chemistry, nutritional, and functional properties. Adv Food Nutr Res (Review). Advances in Food and Nutrition Research. 58, 1–31.
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Bernice Kagan; Meredith McCarty (1995). Fresh from a vegetarian kitchen. New York: St. Martin’s Press.
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Gómez-Caravaca, A.M., Iafelice, G., Lavini, A., Pulvento, C., Caboni, M. F. y Marconi, E. (2012). Phenolic Compounds and Saponins in Quinoa Samples (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Grown under Different Saline and Non saline Irrigation Regimens. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 60 (18): 4620–4627.