What is Quinoa Made Of?

If you are new to quinoa recipes, you may be wondering what it is and what is quinoa made of.  Quinoa is one of today’s most interesting food and therapeutic resources; it has been referred to as a super food. This native of Andean, South America has been farmed for about 5000 years. The Incas people used it as a grain and it was in fact their most important staple, followed by potatoes and maize. But though quinoa exhibits the characteristics of a grain, it is not a true grain, but a member of the spinach family. Quinoa is not only a food source; its therapeutic characteristics are very similar to those of the well known garlic, making it a firm contender to the throne of a panacea once given to garlic.

So, what is quinoa made of? Scientific analysis has shown that this pseudo-grain is a rich source of many of the nutrients necessary for human survival. It contains more protein than the ordinary grains, many minerals, vitamins and trace elements necessary for the normal working and maintenance of the human body. Its minimum protein content of about 13% is complete, meaning that it provides all the essential amino acids that the human body must get from food, unlike other plant proteins. But this is not all; quinoa’s therapeutic properties are thought to originate from its wide nutrient range. It provides many vitamins, and such mineral trace elements as copper, magnesium, iron, phosphorous, potassium, manganese, zinc and calcium. Some of these are powerful antioxidants which help the body eliminate carcinogens thus lowering the possibility of development of various cancers.

But what is quinoa?

When the Spanish colonizers came to South America, they found the Incas people growing quinoa for food and other household uses, including as a detergent, washing compound and a medication for various skin problems. The Incas held the plant so dear they had a spiritual connection to it. Perhaps they could not explain it at the time, but science has in the recent past established that this plant is so complete a food source that NASA is considering growing it in the manned space stations out in space to provide this goodness to the astronauts. Quinoa also contains a substance known as saponin which is hypoglycemic and helps lower blood sugar levels. This is important especially to diabetics who rely on daily intake or injections of insulin. The combination of nutrients and important compounds also aids the body in the treatment of arteriosclerosis, hypertension, alimentary canal infections and promotes the growth of friendly bacteria in the intestines.

Red quinoa vs. white quinoa contest results with a near draw. Quinoa exists in more than 100 varieties, but there are three which have been widely domesticated and are grown for food. These are white, red and black. The black one is usually referred to as a darker red, so the classification can be reduced to the brighter ones or white and the darker ones or red. The two wide varieties are very similar in characteristics, varying very slightly in fiber and protein composition. The red one is however subtly crunchier when cooked, but the choice of one against the other is more a personal preference than a nutritional or therapeutic one.

Is quinoa gluten free? This is more of an answer. Quinoa is gluten free which makes it a friendly food for those who suffer from gluten intolerance. The pseudo grain can be cooked the same way as rice or used in the form of flour for gluten free baking. However, because quinoa contains a compound that is irritating within its cover, soaking the raw seeds overnight or for at least 8 hours, followed by rinsing before cooking is recommended. Regarding the question what is quinoa made of, the jury is still out as more of its benefits are discovered. But its inclusion in the diet is definitely a plus for every health conscious individual.

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