This unsuspecting food has a lot to offer!

Did you know quinoa is one of the best foods for a healthy and balanced diet?

Even if you’re not sure how to pronounce it, and don’t worry we’ve all been there, quinoa is one of the best whole grain foods you can have in your diet! It is versatile and can be made with a variety of different dishes to satisfy whatever taste you may be craving, and it is totally packed with health benefits! Preparing quinoa is easy, too, since it just needs to be placed into a pot of boiling water and left to simmer for a few minutes. Quinoa is a great option for anyone, but especially for those looking to better their health, take care of their bodies, and have delicious, stress-free meals. These little seeds come in a variety of colors and originate from the Andean region of South America, where indigenous cultures have been utilizing the benefits of quinoa for over 5,000 years! Some of these benefits include immense nutritional value, especially for those that eat a plant-based diet, and high levels of folate, iron, thiamine, copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc, which are all nutrients that our bodies need daily to maintain a healthy lifestyle! These aren’t the only benefits, however, and we have put together a short guide to get to know this little grain and what it can do for you and your health! 

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1. Rich in Fiber

Fiber is an important part of a balanced diet and helps to maintain a regular and healthy digestive cycle. It is particularly helpful in the discarding of waste, but it is not always easy to find in the foods we eat. Quinoa is one of the best foods to turn to for anyone looking to increase their levels of fiber. In fact, quinoa’s fiber content is significantly higher than most other grains on average! According to studies, quinoa averages about 10-16 grams of fiber per every 100 grams depending on the variety (color) of quinoa. The specific type of fiber that quinoa has is insoluble fiber, however, which does not dissolve in water like soluble fiber, but is still essential to keeping a balanced diet! 

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2. Can Help with Weight-Loss

Everyone is looking for that magic food that will help us to shed our unwanted, extra weight magically and instantly, but the truth is: there is no magic food. But, there are tons of great options that can aid in that journey, nonetheless! Quinoa is definitely one of them and can play a huge role in weight-loss. It doesn't take much of this grain to feel its filling effects. On average, most people looking to lose weight abide by a calorie-deficit plan (that is, burning more calories than is being ingested on a daily basis), so having a low-calorie food option that feels more filling, keeping you from eating more, is like a holy grail of dieting! Quinoa is known to reduce the levels of triglycerides, a form of fat that occurs naturally in the body, which is found to aid in promoting weight-loss! Plus, its crunchy consistency and versatility in taste make quinoa accessible to anyone, especially those looking to better their health. 

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3. Packed with Protein

Whether you follow a plant-based diet or you are just conscious of your health and body’s needs, quinoa is a substantial source of essential protein to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. In only one cup of cooked quinoa, research finds there to be an average of over 8 grams of protein! But it’s not just protein that makes quinoa a good choice for those following a plant-based diet, because it is also packed with a number of amino acids used to maintain muscle development, the immune system, and more! 

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4. A Heart Healthy Food

It can be difficult to find food options that are good for the heart, one of the most important health systems in our bodies. Quinoa is perfect for those that require special attention in the diet directed toward keeping their heart happy and healthy for a number of reasons! In fact, quinoa has been found to reduce high blood pressure and help with diabetes, lower cholesterol and glucose levels, and helps prevent heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the CDC. Quinoa is also rich in magnesium which can help to control blood sugar levels and helps to maintain iron levels in the blood as well! Based on these facts, quinoa is a key food in promoting healthy hearts! 

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5. It’s Gluten Free!

Another way that quinoa can be helpful for a variety of diets is that is an appetizing gluten-free option! Gluten is a type of protein commonly found in wheat, rye, and barley that many people are unable to process or it has been found to cause trouble with their digestive systems. There are a lot of reasons that people avoid gluten, whether it is to avoid inflammation because of an intolerance, to lose weight, or a number of other objectives, a gluten-free diet can be either essential to a person’s life or significantly better it on a daily basis! 

Let Mealfit make eating easier with quinoa!

Did you know that Mealfit offers pre-made quinoa by the pound? It’s part of our Meals by the Pound selection of ingredients that we cook to perfection specifically to make your life easier! Our tender quinoa is a great option for anyone looking to add some more health benefits to their lifestyle and is so easy to get a hold of! Having pre-made quantities of quinoa is the perfect way to prep your meals and maintain a balanced and routine meal plan since it can be kept in the fridge for quick, easy, and tasty lunches or as a healthy afternoon snack! We’ve put a lot of time and effort into perfecting how we prepare our quinoa so that it is, 

“seasoned perfectly, much like our famous rice with our  Mealfit Seasoning.”

If you’re interested in checking out our pre-made quinoa option, you can do that by clicking the link here! Otherwise, browse our other meal options and let us make your life a little easier by doing the cooking for you! 

Quinoa is a versatile whole grain that is filled with essential nutrients to help you live a healthy and long life. It can be cooked a number of ways and be the perfect addition to any dish, so have fun with it! By the way, in case you were wondering, it is pronounced “keen-wah.” 

We hope you enjoy this list of quinoa’s health benefits. If you tried any of the things we provided, make sure to let us know! For more recipes and tips, follow us on social media and make sure to check out our weekly blog posts where we share our new favorite recipes and must-know facts about food and living a healthy lifestyle! Check out the other meal options Mealfit provides such as our Weekly Specials, Individual Meals, and other Meals by the Pound.