Did you know Quinoa is a great super food? Does it matter what colour I buy?

Quinoa is one of the top super foods you can consume these days. This ancient food is loaded with protein and many think that it’s a grain, but it’s actually the seed of a plant that’s in the same family as spinach. You can purchase red, white or black quinoa and sometime even rainbow quinoa that has all three colors.

Is one color of quinoa more nutritious?

Not only is it loaded with protein but it has twice as much fiber as almost any other grain and is high in iron and other essential minerals.

Pretty awesome eh?

What Makes Quinoa Such a Healthy Choice? (and does the color matter?)

Quinoa is available in many different colors. But also known to have different names.

White quinoa has been called ivory, blond, golden, and tan. Its taste is the mildest of all the quinoa colors. It also cooks up lighter and fluffier than any of the other colors, and it’s the fastest cooking of all the quinoa colors.

Red quinoa ends up a brown color once it is cooked. It has a nuttier flavor and a chewier feel in the mouth than white quinoa does.

Black quinoa is sweeter and nuttier than red quinoa, while purple and orange quinoa varieties are closer in taste to the red.

The darker quinoa colors add really great interest to salads, especially because they hold up better to cooking and other textures. Eye catching is also what makes food appealing. So this is a great option to get those you love on board to try it.

The darker colour quinoas take about 4 or 5 minutes longer to cook than white quinoa does.

If you struggle to choose which quinoa color to buy, you can always choose the rainbow quinoa. This combines all the colors and textures and makes an excellent choice for side dishes or main courses.

It does not matter what colour you pick to eat, they all offer these healthy benefits:

1. High in iron, magnesium, and B-vitamins 2. High in calcium, potassium, vitamin E and phosphorus. 3. Gluten free and is a great replacement for pasta and other wheat-based products 4. A complete source of protein since quinoa contains all 9 essential amino acids.

Quinoa has both soluble and insoluble fiber and has a low glycemic index. What that means for you is it helps stabilize blood sugar levels. As well, can improve insulin sensitivity and help you to feel fuller longer.

Trying to lose weight? Quinoa is a great option for this goal. Not only because it makes you feel full longer but also has high levels of magnesium which can help fight heart disease, keep blood pressure stable and can even fight osteoporosis.

You can have quinoa in every meal of the day and not feel guilty about it.

It's a good idea to cook up a batch of quinoa at the beginning of the week without any spices and keep in the fridge. This way here you can add it into salads and dishes whenever you like.

Have a wonderful day.

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Yours in health

Lorena