If your health is important to you, consider making quinoa a regular part of your diet. This ancient seed has been cultivated in parts of South America for over 5,000 years. It was a sacred food for the Incas and played a very important role in their culture. Their armies are said to have been strengthened by the war balls made of quinoa and fats, which were prepared for the soldiers before they went off to battle.
Quinoa fell out of popularity subsequent to the Spanish rule. The Spanish were not fond of quinoa and because it was so important to the Incans they burned the quinoa fields in attempt to break their spirit. The only places that quinoa remained was in the upper mountainous regions.
Despite a 400 year lull in cultivation, the quinoa seed has rapidly ascended into super star status in the last five years. This is due to the fact that nutritional experts have declared it a “super food” and many have gone so far as to call it the most perfect food on the planet. Certainly, it is one of the best plant based protein sources that you can find, having all 9 of the essential amino acids. The protein quality has been compared to that of dehydrated whole milk by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization.
Quinoa is digested easily, and nutrients are readily assimilated into the blood stream. This makes it an excellent way to get not only vitamins and minerals, but also enzymes, phytonutrients and antioxidants which are packed into these tiny seeds. It is gluten free and most people find that even though they have food sensitivities they can still enjoy quinoa.
If you are new to cooking quinoa, there are a few things you will want to be aware of before you get started. The first and most important is that it is absolutely critical that you rinse the seeds thoroughly before you cook quinoa. The reason for this is that the outside of the seeds are covered in saponin, a substance that protects it as it grows. Unfortunately, saponin is very bitter and can also lead to digestive upset. If you are someone who has a sensitive stomach, you may want to think about soaking your quinoa for eight hours prior to rinsing. This will remove the phytic acid, which many health professionals believe can stand in the way of proper digestion.