The Greatest Grain - Derek

Our March photo shoot approaches this Sunday, and before I finally post the plan we have been following I wanted to share some background information on one of our current food staples. Many of you that see me regularly have heard me talk about Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) as a very healthy complex carbohydrate source. I caution everyone to limit their grain intake in general and refined grain intake in particular due to the low nutrient and high calorie source they provide, but with Quinoa this is much less the case.



Quinoa, unlike most other grains, is an excellent source of many macro and micro nutrients. For the macros: it is low in fat, rich in slow digesting carbohydrates and fiber, and is one of the few plant based complete proteins so it provides all he essential amino acids the human body needs. Its protein is even ranked as highly as soy based on its amino acid profile, making it an excellent food option. In terms of micro nutrients, quinoa also boasts high concentrations of the minerals iron, phosphorus, magnesium, and manganese. These factors make it a much more nutrient dense food than other grains, and therefore a very healthy option. If you'd like to learn more about Quinoa, check out its background here or its nutritiondata.com analysis here.

Until next time, try some Quinoa, but don't skip the beans and greens!