Quinoa
About Quinoa
You may have come across the term superfood. Superfoods are those foods that have mostly all the nutrients with significantly fewer calories. Quinoa is a superfood that is widely consumed by health-conscious people. It is rich in protein, fibre, and many other nutrients that make it the healthiest food. It is at the top in the food & beverage category as you can eat it with juices or shakes.
Quinoa grows on a flowering plant which is available throughout the year. This plant is loveable due to its edible seeds. These seeds are related to the family of spinach and beets. You can consume it as a substitute for rice. For cooking quinoa, you need to boil it till it is soft. The best tasting quinoa is the one that is less chewy and bitter. The taste may differ based on the type of quinoa you choose. It is available in different colours. The most common are black, red, and white quinoa and have the same quinoa nutrition. White is the most consumed colour and takes very little time to cook. It also has a significantly less crunchy and nutty taste. Red takes longer to cook than white and has a mild crunch and nutty flavour. Black colour takes the longest to cook and is the crunchiest and nuttiest.
Health benefits of quinoa
Since quinoa is a superfood, it has the health benefits of all grains and cereals. It has all the crucial amino acids that make it a complete source of nutrition. You can eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. An important thing to know here is the amount of intake and the right way to consume it. Always remember that any food, be it superfood or not, can provide nutrients only if consumed the right way. You can buy quinoa online in UAE from Shops.ae. Here, you can select the best type of quinoa from over 500 brands and stores. The brands on our product search engine are Carrefour, Bayara, India Gate, Natureland, Hunter’s Gourmet, Earth’s finest, and Organic Larder. Read on to know about some of the health benefits of quinoa.
Improved heart health
The seed of quinoa has many dietary flavonoids, which increase the life of the heart. It contains healthy fats, and they increase the good cholesterol in the body. It also has alpha-linolenic, monosaturated fatty, and oleic acid, which reduces bad cholesterol. Many pieces of research prove that it protects us from cardiovascular diseases. It protects the heart from inflammation that may result in the hardening of arteries. It is free of cholesterol and gluten, making it a whole food. This real food is beneficial for the health of the heart.
Aids in weight loss
Quinoa may aid in weight loss as it improves metabolism and lowers appetite. To lose weight, you must consume fewer calories. Quinoa protein and fibre are so high that it makes you feel full, which leads to no hunger pangs. Overall, it reduces the consumption of calories. There is no proof that it leads to weight loss. But researchers believe it could be a part of a healthy diet. You can very easily add it to your current diet plan or make a new one with it. For example, you can make quinoa rice if you want to incorporate rice into your diet.
Improved digestion
If you consume quinoa every day, you are eating a fibre-rich diet. Fibre is perfect for your digestive system. The human body needs 20g to 30g of fibre each day. Soluble fibre and insoluble fibre are the 2 forms of fibre. Soluble fibre disrupts the digestion process as it mixes with water and becomes gel in the stomach. However, it is not the case with insoluble fibre. They ensure the waste food is passed out of the body quickly. Quinoa has 78% of insoluble fibre, which means that it is a good source for improved digestion.
Anti-inflammatory & gluten-free
As already mentioned, quinoa is a superfood. It has all the essential nutrients and amino acids. Simultaneously, it is also free of gluten. Those who follow a gluten-free diet don’t get the proper nutrition required by the human body. For them, quinoa is the perfect food. You don’t have to add any other ingredient to make it gluten-free. It is free of gluten naturally. It is much more beneficial for consumption than foods made from potato flour, corn, and rice. Similarly, it also protects from diseases caused due to inflammation. It has anti-inflammatory nutrients like vitamin E, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Diabetes management & hypertension
Some studies show that quinoa plays a vital role in the management of diabetes and hypertension. It has a low glycemic index and can control the level of blood sugar in the body. It is a complete protein along with all the amino acids and dietary fibre. You will be able to manage your blood sugar level by consuming it regularly but not in excess. You can mix it with different ingredients and then cook it so that you don’t get bored of eating it. If you wish to buy cheap organic quinoa, you can hop on to Shops.ae. You can even purchase cheap bulk quinoa if you don’t want to shop for it every week!
Tips on how to buy Quinoa
Now that you know about the health benefits of quinoa, you must know about the risks involved. It is a superfood and is super healthy! You can consume quinoa for thyroid management as well. But you are mistaken if you think it is the perfect food with no disadvantages. To protect the quinoa seed from bacteria, it has a coating of saponins. It will help if you don’t consume saponins as they taste bitter. Hence it would be best if you washed it properly before consumption. It would be best to not eat it in excess as the high fibre may upset your stomach. Similarly, there are various things that you need to remember before you purchase it.
- Colour – Whether you buy quinoa for sale online in the UAE or from a supermarket, you will find it in different colours. As mentioned earlier, the most common colours consumed are red, black, and white. All the colours have the same nutrition. The only difference is in their taste. Hence, it would help if you decided the flavour you want and what purpose you are buying. For example, you should not use black to make rice as it is the nuttiest. Instead black colour is better for cold dishes and white colour for hot meals.
- Cleaning – As we said, the seed has a coating of saponins for protection. Saponin doesn’t harm the human body, but it has a bitter taste. You can taste the bitterness even after cooking. Therefore, before cooking, you must wash it properly so that the saponin is not there. To avoid this hassle, you can even purchase a pre-rinsed one that is already rinsed by the makers. If you think that it will be more expensive, that is not the case.
- Check the label – Before purchasing, you must check the label at least twice! People who are gluten intolerant must ensure that they don’t buy quinoa without checking the label. Even when you are in a hurry, checking the label should be first your step. It has all the vital information related to a food item, and you should not ignore it. The makers also mention whether the quinoa is pre-rinsed or not on the label. From price to ingredients to certifications, everything is there for you on the label itself.
- Organic vs non-organic – This may come as a shock to you, but there is no significant difference between organic and non-organic quinoa. Since it has a natural coating of saponins, the farmers don’t add anything else for pest control. There is no use of sprays, pesticides, and fertilizers, even non-organic ones. Still, if you are purchasing an organic one, you are just wasting your money. At the same time, you must not worry about it being a GMO product. Even though it is a whole grain, it is not genetically modified. It is a naturally grown product.
- Storage – You may be wondering where are you going to store all the quinoa that you are going to buy! You can keep it when it is raw and cooked as well. There is no need to hold it in an airtight container like other grains. All you need to do is keep it in a dark and cold place. This will ensure that there are no insects and moisture in it. You can store cooked quinoa in the refrigerator for almost a week. It can be put in the freezer, and then you can use it in batches. You can store its flakes and flour in the refrigerator and freezer, respectively.
We hope we were able to aid you in making the right purchase without any hassle! Quinoa is one of the healthiest food items available to humankind! It is rich in amino acids, minerals, antioxidants, and fibre. Due to the presence of all the nutrients, it is a superfood!
Question & Answer
What to make with quinoa?
If you are looking to make quinoa a part of your everyday meals, you need not worry. It may look like you cannot mix it with other ingredients, but that is not true. You can make it with various ingredients and add in salads with a flavourful dressing to spice up your salads. You can also use it for hot meals like porridge and burger patties. Another method of incorporating it into your diet is by using it as a filling for tacos and sandwiches. If you are fond of stews and want to improve their texture, then quinoa is the key.
Why is quinoa good for diabetics?
Diabetes involves the management of blood sugar levels in the human body. Quinoa is highly beneficial for diabetics, just like fruits, vegetables, and protein. If you consume foods with a high glycemic index, that will raise the blood sugar level. However, quinoa has a low glycemic index that aids in controlling the sugar level. You can also call it whole grain and protein due to the presence of essential amino acids. These factors are responsible for managing the level of sugar in the blood. It is also beneficial for people who have type 2 diabetes as it is better than refined grains.
Which quinoa is the healthiest?
There is no significant difference between the three standard colours of quinoa available for consumption. Nutritional value is almost the same in all three colours. Along with various health benefits, all three colours are gluten-free. They also have an equal amount of antioxidants and amino acids in each serving. However, black has the lowest fat and calories. The protein content is approximately similar to red and white. In addition to this, the black colour has a better flavour along with a slightly sweet taste. The black colour is also able to retain its shape after cooking. We believe it may be somewhat healthier out of the three with a better taste and flavour.