Health Benefits of Quinoa, Uses And Its Side Effects

Although the actual protein content of quinoa is not high, the value it nevertheless adds is quite high. It contains essential amino acids such as tryptophan, lysine, and methionine. Since these compounds cannot be synthesized by the human body, it needs an external source that can provide these nutrients. While other grains may offer one or the other of these essential amino acids, quinoa is valuable because it provides all of them.

Of the 7 grams of fiber available in 100 grams of quinoa, most of it is insoluble. Insoluble fiber is essential to the human body as it stimulates healthy digestion. Not only does it facilitate healthy and regular bowel movement, it also treats and prevents other gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation, gas, flatulence, and bloating pain.

Carbohydrates are one of the biggest components of our regular intake of food. However, studies have shown that cereals like wheat, rice, and even oats induce more hunger. On the other hand, healthy alternatives like amaranthus and quinoa do not induce an urge to eat more. As it controls overeating, it automatically controls body weight.

It is a great dietary addition for those who are on weight loss diet regimens. Quinoa good for weight loss, it can be consumed after weight loss exercises as well. Its high insoluble fiber content is what impacts and increases the feeling of satiety. Animal studies have found that consuming quinoa results in better glucose processing, higher expenditure of energy, and less fat absorption in the blood.

Quinoa is also high in manganese, which impacts digestive hormones and enzymes, which empowers the digestive processes of the body. Other studies reveal that eating quinoa regularly can prevent the onset of obesity.

People who follow a gluten-free diet can easily consume quinoa. A study of patients of celiac disease, who consumed quinoa, showed that it was nutritionally better than rice as quinoa provided the required intake of protein, calcium, iron, and fiber. Their diet was more balanced than when they consumed rice, thus better meeting the dietary requirements caused by their condition.

Antioxidant rich foods, such as quinoa, are great in reducing the chance of developing cancer. Quinoa has three unique nutrients that when consumed by cancer patients, can cause death of the mutated cells. The first of these nutrients, which is actually called an antinutrient, is saponin. While an excess of this compound can have an adverse effect on healthy cells, it causes cell death of cancerous cells in glioblastoma, leukemia, and lymphoma patients when consumed moderately.

The second active nutrient is lunasin, which is particularly effective as it only affects mutated cells and not healthy cells. The final super-nutrient is an antioxidant known as quercetin, which fights the buildup of free radicals in the body and controls the spread of lung cancer. Quinoa is known as one of the best anti-inflammatory foods because of its high quercetin content.

The compounds in quinoa positively affect the lipid profile in the body. Additionally, it is known to have reduced the adverse effects of fructose on the level of glucose in the body. This in turn works to reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in the body.

As discussed, quinoa is high on protein value as well as carbohydrate content. Its low glycemic value, therefore, is another benefit. It also contains considerable amounts of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. These properties or Quinoa work together to maintain the health of the cardiovascular system. It prevents the accumulation of toxins in the body. Additionally, quinoa keeps blood vessels clear and open.

The calcium content present in quinoa is similar to that of dairy products. However, it has the added benefit of working in favor of people who are averse to dairy products. Regularly consuming quinoa can prevent the development of bone conditions such as osteoporosis. Quinoa improves bone density and keeps bones in good health.

There are two active ingredients in quinoa that contribute greatly to reducing the risk of developing gallstones and kidney stones. The first is its fiber content and the other is the presence of antioxidants. These two things regulate the secretion of bile juice and the buildup of toxins in the body, which prevents the body from creating gallstones and kidney stones.

The antioxidants present in quinoa, such as polyphenols, total phenolics, and anthocyanins, do more than protect the kidney. It also protects the heart, liver, pancreas, and lungs against oxidant activities. In fact, compared to other pseudocereals such as amaranthus, quinoa has higher levels of antioxidants. The antioxidant properties are exaggerated when quinoa seeds are germinated and consumed as sprouts.

As mentioned earlier above in nutrition chart, a 100 gram serving of quinoa can constitute 55% of the daily value of magnesium. Dietary magnesium has been known to have many positive effects on the body, including controlling asthma, regulating sugar levels in the blood, improving cardiovascular health, and a reduction in the risk of developing osteoporosis.

By reducing the levels of sugar in the blood, quinoa can greatly benefit diabetes patients. It is a known fact that controlling and treating diabetes requires a regular intake of insulin which works to regulate blood sugar levels, especially after meals. A regular intake of quinoa can reduce the amount of insulin required by the body, thus decreasing the mental stress of a diabetic lifestyle on patients.