Quinoa is a shrub whose seeds are eaten and come in many colors: white, red, black and blue. Red and golden quinoa are nutritionally the same. Red makes for a very beautiful look. Quinoa was of great nutritional importance to pre-Columbian Andean civilizations. It was the second main food after the potato and was followed by corn. Today it is highly valued for its nutritional value and the United Nations has classified it as a superfood for its high protein content (13%). Unlike rice or wheat, which are low in lysine, quinoa contains a balanced content of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete diet. This means that we need less quinoa protein than wheat protein for our needs. Although practically a seed, quinoa is considered a complete cereal and a good source of fiber. Quinoa also contains Omega 3 fats, which do not harm the heart. It is also a good source of phosphorus and has a lot of magnesium and iron. It has no gluten and is easily digested.
