Quinoa, Great for Your Diet and Tasty Too!

Are you a vegetarian or Vegan that finds it near impossible to get all of your daily Magnesium, protein and Iron? Most likely if you are, you have heard of Quinoa. A nutty little seed. Beans may not do it all for you, and so most might try all the veggies they can but still not reach the peak they need. My old roommate was a vegetarian, but she was PICKY!!! It drove me nuts. She would order a cheese quesdilla and ask for only tomatoes and cheese. WTH is that? Quinoa is a great way to get more protein in your diet. And it has a very high mineral content. It is wonderful on salads and great as a side dish or a main dish. We had it for dinner tonight, with lightly steamed asparagus, fresh tomatoes and avocados.

The benefits of Quinoa actually go far beyond that of a protein substitute for vegans and vegetarians. People who suffer from migraines wouldn’t go far wrong in making Quinoa a regular part of their diet. This is because Quinoa also contains high amounts of magnesium. People who suffer from persistent migraines often have problems sleeping at night, which may be due to a lack of Magnesium in their diets. A Magnesium deficiency can change electrical patterns in the brain causing restless sleep as well as frequent awaking. Magnesium is also an important mineral for relaxing the blood vessels, which can in turn lower blood pressure and cholesterol. It can also help in the battle against diabetes and is important for maintaining strong, healthy bones.

Iron plays an essential role in our body by helping to carry oxygen to our heart, lungs and brain. In doing so it keeps our minds alert and our bodies energized. Without enough iron, oxygen distribution in our body slows down and we may begin to get regular headaches, feel sluggish and become easily annoyed. A severe iron deficiency can lead to Anemia, which in certain situations can be life threatening. Around 65 % of Americans actually suffer from iron deficiency and are totally unaware of the fact. This could be cured by using Quinoa instead of rice in a risotto, as just a quarter of a cup contains around 20% of your recommended daily iron intake. This means that if everyone were to eat 3 or 4 cups of the grain a week many Americans would become more vibrant and energetic, which could in turn ease the obesity epidemic. No wonder Quinoa is now listed as one of the top ten super food.

I purchased mine the other night from the local health food store, not always the cheapest but the easiest by far. It was $3.99 a pound and that is a lot of Quinoa. I fixed a half a cup of dry seeds and it was almost 2 full cups.

Prep, all you have to do is soak for 15 minutes, rinse a few times then add your water, bring to a boil, put a lid on it, and let simmer for 15 minutes. Then take off heat and let sit for 5 minutes. then drain. I added some fresh garlic while mine was cooking and it had just a slight taste of it, which was pretty perfect!

But check out http://www.quinoa.net for tons of great recipes. I will be trying some of those, for sure! and the mister loved it too!

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