What is all the hype about QUINOA?
You may have already heard about quinoa. But wouldn’t you like to know what makes this whole grain so special that many nutritionists elevate this food to a superfood status?
Quinoa (kēnwä) is a nutrition rich, gluten-free, whole grain filled with antioxidants, dietary fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc, and a high protein content (15%). In fact, quinoa is a “complete protein,” meaning it contains all the essential amino acids—in just the right amounts—for your protein needs. Quinoa is very versatile: you can eat quinoa as an ingredient in your salad, as a starchy side dish, or you can even eat it for breakfast as a substitute for a typical breakfast of cereal or oatmeal.
One of the benefits of eating this ancient grain is that you will feel full for a longer time after eating quinoa because it takes your digestive tract more time to breakdown the high fiber and protein content. As such, quinoa has been shown to reduce risk of diabetes.
Try this week’s delicious Quinoa Summer Salad recipe!
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Check out this zero cholesterol, Mediterranean recipe of quinoa salad:
SUPERFOOD SUMMER MEDITERRANEAN QUINOA SALAD
A simple and incredibly nourishing salad and/or side dish.
Ingredients:
Add minced fresh basil leaves to your quinoa salad to add just a hint of summer flavor.
Yields: 9 servings (1/3 cup per serving)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of quinoa
- 2 cups of water
- 1 cup of cherry or grape tomatoes, chopped
- ¼ cup of fresh basil leaves, minced
- ¼ cup of olives, chopped (green, black, and/or kalamata)
- ¼ cup of balsamic vinaigrette
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
Directions:
In a medium pot, add quinoa and water until a boil. Reduce water to a simmer and cook the quinoa until all the water is absorb (stir quinoa every 5 minutes so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot). Add the tomatoes, basil, olives, balsamic vinaigrette, and olive oil to the cooked quinoa and mix all the ingredients together. Serve hot or cold.
Nutrition Information Per Serving: Calories: 110 kcal, Fat: 5 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Carbohydrates: 14 g, Dietary Fiber: 2 g, Protein: 3 g, Sodium: 36 mg
Mediterranean Meal Plans
Every Mediterranean meal plan isn’t as carefully created as you’d think. Many food lovers go overboard in adding their own extra touches, forgetting that the seasoning they’re suggesting may be harmful for someone with a particular medical condition. The Mediterranean Nutritionist is the brainchild of Fitness and Nutrition Expert with a Ph.D. and a Registered Dietician Nutritionist. You can get the most out of your Mediterranean food regimen with ready to cook Mediterranean meal plans, with every component researched to maximize the benefits of both health and taste. Check out the website for sample meals today!
Original Source: Dr. Janet
