Pleased to Meet You, Quinoa: All the Reasons You Should Eat It

In recent years, quinoa has gained popularity. It is becoming a central feature in the Israeli kitchen. Indeed, it is highly recommended due to its many advantages. What makes quinoa so healthy? Quinoa is very rich in several nutrients, and when it undergoes a sprouting process, its nutritional value increases. Here are some examples of the nutritional components it contains.

Dietary Fiber - It is rich in dietary fiber, which can assist the digestive system in getting rid of various waste materials like cholesterol and promotes better bowel movements.

Iron – Iron is one of the essential minerals in the body and its importance in preventing anemia is well known. Quinoa is abundant in iron. However, it should be noted that various foods and drinks inhibit iron absorption. Therefore, one should avoid them as much as possible, especially when eating quinoa before and after, and these include: tea, coffee, cocoa, beer, chocolate, food colorings, preservatives.

Magnesium – Quinoa is very rich in magnesium. This mineral is of great importance to heart health, such as when there are heart rhythm disturbances, muscle cramps, migraines, irregular bowel movements, and more.

Protein – Proteins are made up of building blocks called amino acids. There are 22 amino acids, nine of which are called 'essential,' meaning that the body cannot produce them on its own. These nine amino acids are found in quinoa in very good amounts, making quinoa a very high-quality plant-based protein food.

Gluten – Here we come to the news for celiac patients, which is that quinoa does not contain gluten, and therefore it is suitable for celiac patients and those who have a problem with consuming wheat products. In various health food stores, you can find quinoa in the form of flour, bread, pasta, snacks, and more.

For Diabetics – The glycemic index level (the rate at which carbohydrates convert to sugar) is low, but it is still advisable to help lower the index level in several ways: A. Precede eating a large vegetable salad with plenty of green leaves. B. It is advisable to eat quinoa together with a legume like in a mujaddara dish. C. It is advisable to eat quinoa unboiled but soaked in water for several hours (not less tasty and there are many recipes for this). D. In any case, it is advisable to check the sugar level (as is advisable for diabetics with almost any food consumed) to know the blood sugar level after eating quinoa and thus know if quinoa is suitable for that person.

Eliahu Shechter is an Iridologist and Natural Therapist