Quinoa is an ancient, South American grain that has recently become popular all across the United States. And with good reason as we will explore in this article all about quinoa nutrition facts. Here’s a little historical titbit for you. Quinoa was prized by the ancient Inca in Peu. That’s not surprising since it sustained them for over 5000 years.

One of the reasons why it has always been so popular is the fact that it is packed with protein. This means that it has all the amino acids we; including one names lysine. Quinoa actually has plenty of this vital amino acid. The reason we need amino acids is that proteins are made up of them and your body needs them to make and maintain muscle tissue. In our current diet, we get most of our protein from animal products. Only a handful of grains and other plant based foods contain all the different types of protein blocks we need. It is one of the reasons Quinoa is called the mother of all grains and is classified as a superfood.

Quinoa is also good for you because it is full of fiber and low in sodium and cholesterol. It also contains plenty of Iron, Magnesium, Phosperous, Manganese, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Folate, Vitamin B6, Vitamin E and Niacine. All those nutrients make it a very healthy whole grain choice that also happens to be low-calorie. NO wonder it’s a superfood.

Quinoa is perfect when you are trying to lose weight since both the fiber and protein in it will keep you full while you are enjoying a low-calorie dish. You can cook it instead of rice, potatoes, pasta and other white starches. It’s better for you and you won’t have to worry about sugar cravings later.

If you need to stick to gluten free foods, quinoa is your best friend. You can make anything from breads and puddings to risotto-like side dishes and even breakfast cereal (similar to oatmeal) out of it. It’s also delicious on salads and gives a plain old plate of lettuce and vegetables some extra texture and flavor.

Still not convinced this is worth a try? Let’s see what you can expect to gain from it. Here are some of the benefits that speak for incorporating this super food into your diet. It can improve your heart health and is a great source of antioxidants which may prevent cancer. Lignans can also be found in quinoa which have been shown to protect your heart from and keep it strong. Last but not least, let’s not forget that it is also a whole grain food which I don’t have to tell you is an important part of a healthy diet.