4. Gluten-Free and Perfect for People With Gluten Intolerance

According to a 2013 survey, about one-third of people in the US are trying to minimize or avoid gluten.

A gluten-free diet can be healthy, as long as it’s based on foods that are naturally gluten-free.

Problems arise when people eat gluten-free foods made with refined starches.

These foods are no better than their gluten-containing counterparts, as gluten-free junk food is still junk food.

Many researchers have been looking at quinoa as a suitable ingredient in gluten-free diets for people who don’t want to give up staples like bread and pasta.

Studies have shown that using quinoa instead of typical gluten-free ingredients like refined tapioca, potato, corn and rice flour can dramatically increase the nutrient and antioxidant value of your diet.

5. Very High in Protein, With All the Essential Amino Acids

Protein is made of amino acids, nine of which are called essential, as your body cannot produce them and needs to obtain them through your diet.

If a food contains all nine essential amino acids, it’s referred to as a complete protein.

The problem is that many plant foods are deficient in certain essential amino acids, such as lysine.

However, quinoa is an exception to this, because it contains sufficient amounts of all the essential amino acids.. For this reason, it’s an excellent source of protein. It has both more and better protein than most grains.

With 8 grams of quality protein per cup (185 grams), quinoa is an excellent plant-based protein source for vegetarians and vegans.

6. Has a Low Glycemic Index, Which is Good for Blood Sugar Control

The glycemic index is a measure of how quickly foods raise your blood sugar levels.

Eating foods that are high on the glycemic index can stimulate hunger and contribute to obesity.

Such foods have also been linked to many of the common, chronic, Western diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Quinoa has a glycemic index of 53, which is considered low.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s still fairly high in carbs. Therefore, it’s not a good choice if you’re following a low-carb diet.