Quinoa: all about the carbohydrate you should include in your diet –

It’s been more than a decade since quinoa (or quinoa) began to show up at cereal stores and probably on your post-appointment menu with a nutritionist. The truth is that, even after so many years, Andean cereal still has the ball. But the fact that it is a carbohydrate with a high protein level, can still leave doubts about what the superfood does for your body.

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Below is a list of all the benefits contained in the grain:

1. Low glycemic index carbohydrate. For those following a low-carb diet, cereal should be first on the menu. The low glycemic index causes it to take time to be transformed into blood sugar, which prevents an overproduction of insulin – the hormone responsible for storing fats.

2. High biological value protein. Each quinoa grain contains 20 different amino acids (protein components). Among them, methionine and lysine, responsible for the formation of a complete protein that is well absorbed by the body – a rarity among foods that are not of animal origin. Another advantage is being free of saturated fat from meat, which, in excess, harms the heart.

3. Accelerates metabolism. Because it is a food easily digested by the body, you can resort to it to recover and maintain muscles after exercise – this causes metabolism to be accelerated and caloric burning occurs.

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4. Superfood for vegetarians. Okay, quinoa doesn’t have the same amount of iron as meat. However, it beats any other cereal in this regard as well. In every 100 grams, there are 10.9 milligrams of the mineral, which fights anemia and ensures energy. “This is great news for those who eat little (or no) red meat”, says nutritionist Heloísa Guarita, from Clínica RGNutri, in São Paulo.

5. Full of nutrients. In addition to not having the saturated fat found in beef and pork cuts, it comes with the opposite benefit: it has omega-3, good fat that cleans the arteries. It is also gluten free and a low-calorie source of protein (75 calories per tablespoon). The mix of fibers and vitamins (C, E and especially the B complex) completes the valuable nutritional information about quinoa, considered by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to be the best and most complete plant-based food.