Quinoa is a whole grain packed with nutrients, fiber, protein, and plant compounds. It has many health benefits and is an easy way to add variety to your diet.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. This article takes a look at what quinoa is, where it comes from and why it’s so good for you. 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 (1). 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 (2). Although it’s now grown around the world, the majority is still produce...
