Not a day goes by without a food being advertised as having miraculous effects. For example, the popular food of recent times is quinoa. As a dietitian, I would like to tell you about quinoa in terms of its content.
Yes, unlike other plant foods, it contains all the essential amino acids. At this point, it is completely separated from bulgur, lentils, chickpeas and beans and has the same feature as eggs, a complete protein source. But there is a very important detail that is missed. Bioavailability! In other words, the body's ability to process and benefit from the amino acids it receives from quinoa is not as good as eggs.
The quarcetin contained in quinoa increases its nutritional value. However, according to research, the bioavailability of intestinal flora against foreign foods is quite low. In addition, if wrong cooking methods are applied to quinoa, it releases a toxic substance and causes more harm than good to the body.
Our country is a paradise of grains and legumes, and we can access these foods much easier and cheaper than quinoa. We can meet all the essential amino acids we get from quinoa by diversifying legumes in our meals. It would be very beneficial for someone who is not vegan, that is, does not consume meat, to consume quinoa. However, it is out of the question for a person who can consume any food to lose weight by consuming quinoa. As we always say, no food alone can create miracles. What makes a food miraculous is the advertisements of food companies.
If we make a simple calculation, 100 grams of cooked chickpeas contains 2 times more vegetable protein and 5 grams less carbohydrates compared to 100 grams of cooked quinoa. Although the fact that quinoa contains all amino acids makes it more prominent, consuming it in large amounts will cause unnecessary energy intake.
The purpose of consuming quinoa is to take up space in the stomach and provide a longer feeling of fullness. If it had the same effects on the body as eggs, we as a country would eat cheaper quinoa instead of meat and show off to everyone by building quinoa muscles!
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