Quinoa is an annual plant that prefers to grow in the warmer regions of South America. Despite the short life span, the plant can reach a height of one and a half or even 2 meters. It has a tall stem with round, light green leaves. The fruits are collected in large clusters, and the grains resemble buckwheat in shape. There are several types of quinoa: beige, red, and black. The plant is most common at high altitudes, starting from 3000 meters above sea level. It prefers difficult climatic conditions and mountain slopes, and its home is the shore of Lake Titicaca, the largest of the alpine lakes.
The plant has been known for a very long time, in particular, it was included in the diet of the Indians of South America. Even the ancient Incas used it in everyday dishes along with potatoes and corn. Quinoa could even substitute for bread or rice in cases of poor harvests. Much later, this amazing plant began to be artificially grown in the mountains. With the approval of the Dalai Lama, it began to be cultivated in Tibet. Also, the plant takes root well on the seashore or in places where the jungle used to be ..
More than 90% of the plant that is grown in Peru and Bolivia goes to the United States of America, and the rest goes mainly to European countries. It is highly valued, among other things, for its purity and naturalness. When growing it, it is forbidden to use genetically modified organisms even to help the plant fight pests or increase yields.
Despite its taste and uses, quinoa is not actually a cereal. farmer-online.com… Its closest relatives are vegetables, in particular, the familiar beets. The seeds of this amazing plant are used to make flour, and the leaves and stems are often used instead of vegetables.
How to choose
Like any other grain crop, quinoa seeds are sold either packaged or by weight. If you have no choice and have to buy packaged goods, be sure to give preference to packages in which you can see the contents. A quality product must be presented without impurities, and also be uniform in size, texture and color. As for the product by weight, it must be dry, clean and uniform in color.
The purchased product must be placed in a glass container, carefully closed with a lid and placed in a cool, dark place. It is best to buy this cereal in specialized online stores, because it is quite difficult to find it in supermarkets, especially of good quality.
Use in cooking
Quinoa is readily used by vegetarians who prepare first courses and side dishes from it. To properly prepare quinoa, there are a few basic rules to keep in mind:
- Rinse the product well to get rid of the bitter taste of quinoa.
- Closely watch the time when you cook the product: the overcooked quinoa quickly deoxidizes.
- The prepared porridge must be well mixed so that it does not stick together.
When boiled, this plant looks like brown rice, and the rules for cooking for it are about the same: for 1 part of quinoa, you need to use 2 parts of water, and then cook over low heat for about 20 minutes until the liquid is completely absorbed.
Quinoa is used as a side dish and goes well with fish, poultry, meat and vegetables. It is actively used to prepare first courses, replacing cereals. Some peoples use it to create sweets by adding fruit or honey. In general, the advice for choosing quinoa dishes is very simple: if rice would suit you in this dish, then this plant will do too.
To get the most out of the plant, you can try germinating it. In this form, it increases the content of useful vitamins, it also promotes good digestion. The huge difference from other cereals is that it takes only 2 to 4 hours to germinate. You can then use it in quinoa salads or make porridge from quinoa.
Flour, which is obtained from grains, is used for baking and production of any dough products, including pasta. .… When you add water and sugar to your quinoa to your liking, you have a refreshing drink that’s great for quenching your thirst. In addition, oil is obtained from the seeds, which is somewhat reminiscent of nut oil.
The Incas and Aztecs used quinoa in cooking so often that there are hundreds of recipes from it. Because of its prevalence, mild flavor, and nutritional value, quinoa has been used as a side dish everywhere, replacing many foods. Nowadays, quinoa in cooking is mainly used to create national dishes, of which there are also a lot. For example, the Spaniards use this plant instead of rice in order to prepare their national pride – paella. In Italy, boiled grains are used as cereals, spices, olive oil and tomatoes are added to them. In Greece, quinoa is made with vegetables, adding tomatoes, cheeses and spices to the grains.
In all countries, quinoa is widely used for stuffing poultry, for adding to first courses or as an addition to salad. Baked goods made from quinoa flour have a special fluffiness and pleasant texture.
Calorie and chemical composition
There are only 100 kcal per 120 grams of the finished dish, and it also has a low glycemic index. Nutritionists consider it an ideal meal for those looking to lose weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle. The main benefit of quinoa is that it contains a very large amount of plant protein, which is very easily and quickly absorbed. It is for this reason that these grains are readily used by vegetarians in almost all dishes, and it is also recommended to eat it for children, pregnant women and people with intellectual or physical activity.
Due to the high concentration of lysine in the product, the body can better absorb calcium, which at about the same time enters the body. In addition, lysine stimulates wound healing and helps in bone formation. The high fiber content (2,8 g per 100 g) helps in the fight against diabetes and obesity, and also helps those who have been diagnosed with heart disease.
Fiber helps the body get rid of harmful substances and toxins, removes bad cholesterol from the body and stimulates digestion. It is believed that daily fiber intake significantly reduces the risk of developing cancer. The high percentage of phosphorus content makes it possible to replace many types of fish with this plant.
How to germinate quinoa
For germination, you need to use no more than 110 g of grain, this can be done in several stages:
- Rinse the grains well (this will remove the bitter taste of the cereal) and then dry well.
- pour the grains with cold water so that it covers them completely;
- leave for half an hour;
- drain and let them dry.
Then the procedure needs to be repeated, and the grains are washed every 8 hours for 48 hours.
- Put a thin layer of grain on a baking sheet and send them to a dark place. Since they have to lie for a long time, cover them with a cloth so that dust or dirt does not get there. The temperature in the room should not be very high, but the cold will ruin the whole enterprise. Leave them for 12 hours.
- After drying, the sprouts should be stored in the refrigerator in a carefully sealed container (preferably glass). Use them within 2 weeks as they quickly deteriorate and all of the health benefits of quinoa are quickly lost.
Application for weight loss
This plant is excellent for weight loss. Despite the high calorie content of quinoa, it is actively used in diets. ..
The fact is that the grains are digested for a very long time, providing a long-lasting satiety effect, so that the diet becomes more simple and painless.
This is the best way to have a hearty and healthy breakfast. Quinoa is often used in a special gluten-free diet that has long been proven to be effective. Such a diet normalizes the body’s functioning and promotes good digestion. Due to the high percentage of protein, cereals can be used as part of protein diets.
Useful Properties
For the first time, the medicinal properties of this plant were discovered by people who consumed it daily. .… Then the beneficial effects of this culture on the cardiovascular system became noticeable, including as an effective fight against migraines. This is due to the fact that the magnesium contained in plants helps relieve vascular tension. [8].
In addition, quinoa is great for maintaining health at any age: it is good for children as it stimulates bone growth, and for older people it helps to get rid of arthritis. For this, it is important to consume it regularly, as well as to maintain a stable blood sugar level, which is very beneficial in diabetes. Quinoa prevents the development of cardiovascular disease, and also supports the body in the fight against anemia.
Doctors recommend eating this plant for those who need body support, in particular, people after surgery or those who are struggling with a complex disease such as cancer. Quinoa will be equally useful for those who daily give a lot of strength and energy to physically hard or strenuous intellectual work.
Quinoa is also very beneficial for those with high blood pressure or other cardiovascular diseases. This plant contains a large amount of a substance called tryptophan, which stimulates the production of the hormone of joy, which means that this plant can really lift your mood. The absence of gluten in cereals allows you to add it to the diet, even for people suffering from allergies to it. [9].
Quinoa is considered one of the most healthy cereals in the world.
The main advantage of this plant is that it contains much more nutrients, minerals and vitamins than most other grains. This means it is healthier than rice, wheat, or any other grains. Nutritionists often compare quinoa to mother’s milk, as this grain is also almost completely absorbed.
Quinoa contains saponins – substances that, when consumed regularly, help the normal functioning of the pancreas, and also keep blood cholesterol levels under control. [10]… When entered through the blood, these substances are poisonous, but in the digestive tract they are normally absorbed and even have a benefit. [11].
Used in cosmetics
In cosmetology, ground quinoa seeds are actively used; they are recommended to be added to masks and scrubs for cellulite. They help to renew the skin, make it softer and more tender. Extracts and extracts from this plant are often used in professional cosmetics, since it is believed that the plant has a pronounced lifting effect.
Hazardous properties
If you have any kidney problems, you should consult your healthcare professional before using this product. The fact is that the plant contains a large amount of protein and oxalates. Be careful with quinoa when it comes to the diet of a child or nursing woman.
Remember that you need to be very careful when introducing it into your child’s diet. However, this rule applies not only to babies, but also to adults. Before you start actively using this useful plant, you need to either use it in small quantities, or consult a doctor. [12].
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