Quinoa is an ancient South American grain that was largely ignored for centuries. Interestingly, it was only recently noticed by the rest of the world and hailed as a “superfood” due to its high nutritional content. It is now considered a specialty food by foodies and the health conscious.

What is Quinoa ?

Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is the seed of the Chenopodium quinoa plant. Botanically speaking, it’s not a grain. However, it’s often called a “pseudograin” because it’s similar in nutrients and eaten the same way as cereal grains.

Quinoa was first grown for food 7,000 years ago in the Andes. The Incas called it “the mother grain” and believed it was sacred. Although it’s now grown around the world, the majority is still produced in Bolivia and Peru. It was largely unknown to the rest of the world until very recently. Since then, it has experienced a huge surge in popularity because of its high nutrient content and health benefits. It is also easy to grow in a range of conditions.

In fact, the year 2013 was named “The International Year of Quinoa” by the UN because of its valuable qualities and potential to fight world hunger. Quinoa is also popular because it’s a gluten-free grain. This means people with celiac disease, wheat allergies or those who avoid gluten can consume it.

Health Benefits of Quinoa

1. Contain Healthy Plant Compound
While talking about quinoa nutritional value, we cannot forget about flavonoids it contains. Two extremely important flavonoids it has are Quercetin and Kaempferol. Both these antioxidants contain anti-inflammatory, anti-depression, anti-viral, and anti-cancer properties. Other plant compounds in quinoa include saponin, squalene, phytic acid, and oxalates that together favor your health.

2. Perfect for Gluten-free Diet
Most grains and seeds contain gluten. Today, many people suffer from gluten intolerance, and for them, quinoa can be a perfect choice. Gluten Free food can be healthy, but it should be naturally gluten-free, not the one made with refined starches. If you are gluten-intolerant, then you can buy Chef Urbano Quinoa online which is a gluten-free & healthy option.

3. Contain Low Glycemic Index
The glycemic index of a food is measured on how quickly it affects the blood sugar level. It is measured between 0-100, and any food with a GI lower than 55 is considered to have a low glycemic index. High GI food increases the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart diseases. Fortunately, quinoa has GI 53 that is quite good but remember quinoa carb content is fairly high, so you should always have it in a limit.

4. Quinoa Benefits for Weight Loss
Although there is no proof for weight loss properties of quinoa, quinoa indirectly contributes to weight loss. Being high in protein, it boosts the metabolism and reduces appetite that ultimately leads to weight loss. It is also a good source of fiber that makes you feel full for longer hours. Additionally, quinoa calories and glycemic index also make ideal for weight loss diet.

5. Improve Metabolic Health
Thanks to nutrition of quinoa that makes it a healthy food for metabolic health. Although to support this fact only two studies have been conducted by fat, one on rats and the other on humans. These studies found that one of the major benefits of quinoa which improve metabolic health reducing insulin, blood sugar, and triglyceride levels.

6. Extremely High in Antioxidants
Antioxidants are important to fight against free radicals and various health diseases. Quinoa is a very rich source of antioxidants, better than various cereals and legumes. Sprouted quinoa have even more antioxidants than the raw seeds.

7. Aids in Lowering Cholesterol
Better digestion can lead to lower cholesterol. The fiber content of quinoa aids in better digestion. As per one of the studies conducted on rats, the rats were given a high fructose diet and then fed with quinoa. It was noticed that quinoa reduces the effect of fructose and pull down the LDL (bad cholesterol) by 57 percent.

8. Beneficial for Heart Health
Lower cholesterol leads to a healthy heart, but apart from this also quinoa benefits the heart in many ways. It contains heart-friendly monounsaturated fats along with omega-3 fatty acids and alpha linolenic acids. The good thing is, it doesn’t lose its fatty acids on cooking, unlike other foods.

9. Easy to Digest
The list of quinoa health benefits can go on, and another one in our list of that it makes digestion easy. A single cup serving of quinoa contains 21 percent of the fiber of recommended daily intake, which is quite higher than its other counterparts.

10. Manages Type 2 Diabetes
Another one of the major health benefits which are considered to be great for type 2 diabetes management, and all credit goes to its antioxidants power, especially quercetin. Not only the antioxidants but quinoa protein and fiber content also helped in controlling blood sugar levels.

11. Has Anti-inflammatory Properties
Quinoa like other whole grains has anti-inflammatory nutrients like gamma-tocopherol, phenolic acids, cell wall polysaccharides that prevent you from chronic inflammation which can further lead to serious health issues. It further promotes healthy gut bacteria that reduce the risk of obesity.

12. Improves Tissue Growth & Repair
It is particularly rich in lysine, an amino acid that is considered essential for tissue growth and repair. You can eat it as porridge or add it to other cereals to get most of it.

How to Eat Chef Urbano Quinoa
Chef Urbano Quinoa is very versatile and easy to prepare. It has a nutty flavour and a chewy, fluffy texture. You can cook it just like rice, with two parts liquid to one part quinoa.

Simply bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 15 minutes. Fluff and serve.

Try using broth instead of water or adding different seasonings for even more flavour. Quinoa can be used like any other grain. It can be served plain, as a side dish or incorporated into other recipes. Our Chef Urbano Quinoa flour can also be used in baking.

Here’s a list of some ways to enjoy Chef Urbano Quinoa:

• Mix with chopped vegetables, served warm or cold.
• Season and serve as a side dish.
• Cook into breakfast cereal with bananas or blueberries.
• Mix with veggies and stuff into bell peppers.
• A great addition to salads, soups, or even biryani
• A nutritious replacement for wheat in baked goods like cakes, breads, cookies, pancakes, etc.
  

Long story short, whichever the variety - white, red, black – Chef Urbano Quinoa helps in weight loss in innumerable ways and is an interesting addition to your everyday diet with the many recipes you can make with it!

Buy Chef Urbano Quinoa Online

Quinoa is widely eaten and have better health benefits that any other grains. So, you can find Chef Urbano Quinoa at your local grocery stores, or you can simply shop for Gluten Free Chef Urbano Quinoa online. So, let Chef Urbano serve you a packet full of nutrients and happiness to sustain life more healthy.

Shop now on www.chefurbano.com With Our Secure Payment Options and Fast Delivery, You'll Be Enjoying the Goodness Of Flax Seeds In No Time!

Also available on Amazon, Flipkart, Jiomart, BigBasket, Blinit and Meesho.

FAQ’s

1. Is Quinoa better for you than rice?
Chef Urbano Quinoa is a plant-based source of complete protein which contains almost double the amount of protein as rice. It is a low-carb diet superfood, an average cup of quinoa contains 39 grams of carbs approximately and is a gluten-free alternative to rice. Quinoa is also rich in micronutrients.

2. Is quinoa a Superfood?
Yes, Quinoa is a Superfood. It is a plant-based source of protein. Packed with iron and potassium, and its protein-content is comparatively higher than other whole grains. Half a cup of quinoa is said to have about 14 grams of protein and 6 grams of dietary fiber. Thus, it is considered naturally gluten-free.

3. Is Quinoa good for losing weight?
Quinoa holds good in terms of high dietary-fiber intake which tends to be a filling consumption and facilitates better digestion. Thus, increasing the metabolism rate with low calorific value, it is the right Superfood to consume for losing weight. It's not only easy to digest but also gluten-free.

4. How to cook white quinoa seeds?
You can either cook it like rice or use it in casseroles or breakfast porridges or salads. Rinse it thoroughly. Boil in a pot with one part quinoa and two parts water. Bring to a boil before letting it simmer for about fifteen minutes or until the water is absorbed. Fluff it up before serving it with your favourite dish.

5. Is white quinoa good for diabetics?
Quinoa a rich source of protein and dietary fiber, both of which it possesses in higher content as compared to any other grain. These nutrients are key in maintaining blood sugar levels. Also, they slow the digestion process lowering the Glycemic index to 53- which is beneficial for diabetics.

6. Is Quinoa Gluten Free?
Yes it is gluten free.

7. Is quinoa good for hair growth?
Yes, quinoa has various vital amino acids that strengthen hair follicles. Quinoa also nourishes the scalp and repairs hair damage.

8. How to use the quinoa for your skin?
Quinoa is excellent for the skin. To maximize Quinoa benefits for your skin, you can make a face pack using cooked quinoa, milk, yogurt, and a few drops of essential oil.

9. Does quinoa cause weight gain?
Overeating quinoa can cause weight gain as it has higher calories than brown rice and whole wheat pasta. One should eat quinoa in moderation to avoid unnecessary weight gain.

10. How many carbs are in 1 cup of quinoa?
1 cup of cooked quinoa has about 40 grams of carbohydrates. Although quinoa is high in nutrients, it is not so low on carbs.

11. How much of Calories in 1/2 cup of cooked Quinoa?
1 cup of cooked quinoa has about 220 calories. So, 1/2 cup of cooked quinoa will have 110 calories.

12. What is the healthiest form of quinoa?
The darkest variety of quinoa is the black quinoa which is super rich and healthy as compared to the other two versions. It is the healthiest option of quinoa that has more protein, dietary fiber, and less amount of fat content inside. It takes time to cook black quinoa due to its nuttier and fluffy texture.

13. Can I eat quinoa everyday?
You can eat one-two cups of cooked quinoa in a day. 

14. Who should not eat quinoa?
Quinoa may cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to foods used as grains, such as buckwheat, wheat, and rice.