Friday, September 14, 2012

BENEFITS OF QUINOA – A GLUTEN-FREE ALTERNATIVE


Quinoa has many great benefits: It is very rich in fiber and magnesium, which protects against hypertension; it is also a great source of riboflavin; furthermore, it is used as an antiseptic in South America. Consequently it is known to be a ‘super-food’. I.e., compared to white rice, a standard serving of quinoa has twice as much protein and eight times as much fiber. Besides these health benefits, it is also Gluten-free, which makes it a great alternative for people who have to avoid Gluten.

Since some people believe that it tastes a little plain, some restaurant chefs use a secret trick and toast it first, which gives it a wonderful nutty, rich flavor. Their recommendation is to spread the quinoa on a tray and place it in a 350-degree oven for 8-10 minutes, until it’s golden brown. Then cook it according to the instructions.

Quinoa is also known to be slightly alkaline-forming, which is another health benefit.