Quinoa is a flowering plant of the amaranth household that originated within the Andes Mountains of South America. This plant produces edible seeds in a wide range of colours, comparable to crimson, black, and white. As soon as the seeds are harvested, they’re processed to take away their exterior coating of saponins (bitter-tasting compounds that act as a pure pesticide for the plant).
Quinoa seeds act like a grain when cooked, licensed dietitian and nutritionist Isabel Smith, R.D., CDN, beforehand instructed mindbodygreen. Quinoa is taken into account to be an entire grain; nevertheless, because it’s technically a seed, it’s truly a pseudocereal—a meals that can be utilized in an analogous solution to cereal grains.
“Quinoa has a light, nutty taste and a chewy texture. It’s straightforward to incorporate in your eating regimen as a result of it is so versatile,” says Jen Scheinman, M.S., RDN, a practical diet coach.
Whereas it tends to be costlier than different grains, comparable to rice, the steeper price ticket could also be price it because it’s a high-quality supply of diet. It’s a gluten-free entire grain that’s low in fats and an ideal supply of fiber, protein, nutritional vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
“Quinoa is a nutrient-dense meals, which means it comprises a wide range of vitamins essential for our our bodies,” says Jordan Hill, MCD, R.D., CSSD, a registered dietitian nutritionist who makes a speciality of sports activities dietetics.
