:: Healthy Quinoa Salad ::

I’m sure by now, most of you have tried quinoa {pronounced KEEN-wah}. This superfood {which was discovered by the Incas, three to four thousand years ago} is one of my personal favorites! Although it is usually thought of as a whole grain, it is actually a seed. It takes less time to cook than whole grains, and tastes amazing on its own! It is a wheat-free, gluten-free, and cholesterol-free food, making it the perfect side dish or main course for vegetarians, vegans, and others with special dietary concerns. Here are some interesting healthy facts about quinoa:

• It is a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids.
• It contains almost twice as much fiber as most other grains. Fiber helps prevent heart disease by reducing high blood pressure and diabetes. It also lowers cholesterol and glucose levels. 
• Quinoa contains lysine, which is essential to tissue growth and repair.
• It is rich in magnesium, which helps to relax blood vessels and alleviate migraines. Additionally magnesium helps detoxify the body, provides energy, and helps with the formation of healthy bones and teeth. 
• The gluten-free super seed is a good source of riboflavin {B2}, which is known to improve energy metabolism within the brain and muscle cells. 
• Quinoa is rich in manganese {an antioxidant}. Manganese helps prevent damage of mitochondria during energy production and protects red blood cells from injury by free radicals. [Read more…]