Quinoa has been popping up in grocery stores, recipes and restaurants at a record pace this past year—with good reason. The whole grain offers lots of health benefits and there are more than 120 different types of quinoa.
Nutritional benefits
Although quinoa is a great plant-based source of protein, it’s certainly not exclusive to vegetarian or vegan diets. One cup of cooked grain provides 8.14 gram of protein with a range of amino acids, including lysine. Lysine helps synthesize proteins and helps aid growth and development.
Compared to other grains, quinoa is very high in fiber, offering 5.18 grams in just one cup. Eating your daily requirement of fiber is imperative to help fight high cholesterol, hypertension, constipation and diverticulosis. In addition, foods that are high in fiber help you feel fuller longer, which can aid in weight loss and maintenance.
If you’re avoiding gluten, quinoa is a perfect grain to add to your diet. It’s surprisingly high in antioxidants, such as vitamin E, which can help reduce your risk of certain cancers, some eye disorders and coronary heart disease.
For the average man, quinoa can provide more than 27% of your daily manganese requirements in just one serving. This mineral is present in every cell in your body and therefore essential for more than 300 enzymatic reactions.
Likewise, men can get more than 34% of their iron requirements in just one serving of quinoa. Iron carries oxygen in your blood and is vital for muscle metabolism and connective tissue.
Adding quinoa to your diet
Ready to add this low-fat, low-calorie food to your diet? You can easily use it as a replacement for rice as a side dish, in soups or in tacos. Try adding it to your salads or creating your own quinoa-black bean burgers. There are plenty of recipes online to help you get started!
