Quinoa

I will start out this blog by saying that if you haven't read my sister's Blog Post entitled "Food" at www.nikandcarladavis.blogspot.com and the comments following it, then you will not really "get" this blog.  My Sister has started cooking a food called Quinoa.  Well, I wanted to know more about the "superfood".  I wanted to know more about the superfood, my sister was feeding to my nephew.  So, here it is:

Quinoa (/ˈkiːnwɑː/ or /kɨˈnoʊ.ə/, from Quechua: kinwa),^[2] a species of goosefoot, is a grain crop grown primarily for its edible seeds. It is a pseudocereal rather than a true cereal, as it is not a member of the true grass family. As a chenopod, quinoa is closely related to species such as beetroots, spinach and tumbleweeds. (Yup - the dang dicationary just said that my Sister is eating a food related to tumbleweeds.  So, what is a tumbleweed?  I guess that people from New York might not know.  But let me tell you - us from West Texas and New Mexico sure know what a tumbleweed is - we even have people who make "snowmen" out of them).

A tumbleweed is a structural part of the above-ground anatomy of any of a number of species of plants, a diaspore that, once it is mature and dry, detaches from its root or stem, and tumbles away in the wind.
   Here is what it looks like.  Would you want to eat this guy's cousin?

   

Ok so, since my family is eating this crazy "pseudocereal" let's get serious.  Quinoa became important to the diet of pre-Columbian Andean civilizations.^[16] The food has only been around for about 3 or 4 thousand years.  The Incas, who held the crop to be sacred,^[27]referred to it as chisaya mama or "mother of all grains", and it was the Inca emperor who would traditionally sow the first seeds of the season using "golden implements".^[27] During the Spanish conquest of South America, the colonists scorned it as "food for Indians",^[28]and suppressed its cultivation, due to its status within indigenous religious ceremonies.^[29] The conquistadors forbade quinoa cultivation for a time^[30] and the Incas were forced to grow wheat instead.  But Quinoa has made it's come back and has been increasingly popular since about 2006. This is a Quinoa flower - if you zoom on it - it really does look like fish eggs waiting to be hatched.
Quinoa grain has been called a superfood.^[17] Protein content is very high for a cereal/pseudo-cereal (14% by mass), but not as high as most beans and legumes. The protein content per 100 calories is higher than brown rice, potatoes, barley and millet, but is less than wild rice and oats.^[18] Nutritional evaluations indicate that quinoa is a source of complete protein.^[19][20][21] Other sources claim its protein is not complete but relatively high in essential amino acids. ^[22] The grain is a good source of dietary fiber and phosphorus and is high in magnesium and iron. It is a source of calcium, and thus is useful for vegans and those who are lactose intolerant.^[23] It is gluten-free and considered easy to digest. Because of these characteristics, it is being considered a possible crop in NASA's Controlled Ecological Life Support System for long-duration human occupied space flights.^[24]
Here is what it looks like in the plant form:

 The nutrient composition is favourable compared with common cereals. Quinoa seeds contain essential amino acids like lysine and acceptable quantities of calcium, phosphorus, and iron.
 One of the best reasons to enjoy quinoa is because it has a high-protein content, which makes it a great cholesterol-free and low-fat source of protein for vegetarians and vegans. According to the USDA nutrient database, 1 cup of cooked quinoa (185 g) contains 8.14 grams of protein . To put that in reference, the recommended daily protein intake is about 56 grams for most men and 46 for most women. (Let's look at what it looks like cooked):   This is my Sister's picture.  It has been cooked and then chunks of carrots have been added.  Now, refer back to the flower picture - yes - still looks like fish eggs.  

This is a picture of actual fish eggs.  See the resemblance?

But here is some more good stuff about it:

Quinoa is a great source of iron and fiber for vegetarians, vegans , and omnivores alike. One cup of cooked quinoa (185 grams) provides 15% of the recommended daily intake of iron, and 5 grams of fiber, which is 21% the recommended amount. Quinoa is also an excellent source of magnesium , with 118 mg per cup, cooked. According to the USDA nutrient database, one cup of cooked quinoa provides:

• 39.41 g carbohydrates
• 31 mg calcium
• 2.76 mg iron
• 318 mg potassium
• 13 mg sodium
• 2.02 mg zinc

Ok, so I understand why they call it a superfood - but really?  Let's get down to it.  There is a negative side:  In their natural state, the seeds have a coating of bitter-tasting saponins, making them unpalatable. Most of the grain sold commercially has been processed to remove this coating.^[10] This bitterness has beneficial effects during cultivation, as it is unpopular with birds and therefore requires minimal protection.^[11] 

The toxicity category rating of quinoa saponins treats them as mild eye and respiratory irritants and as a low gastrointestinal irritant.^[13] The saponin is a toxic glycoside, a main contributor to its hemolytic effects when combined directly with blood cells. In South America, quinoa saponin has many uses, including as a detergent for clothing and washing and as an antiseptic for skin injuries.  

To sum this post up:  YUCK! for 1.  For 2.  This food is related to TUMBLEWEEDS.  3.  Yes it is nutritious and a "superfood" but 4.  The stuff is also used as antiseptic and laundry detergent.  
Truth be told if my sister put a spoonful in front of me and said TRY THIS - I woullllllddddd.....try 2 little egg things.  Of course the time that they lasted in my mouth would definitely depend on their texture.  UGH!  So, Sister, please enjoy your fish egg salad.  But becareful!  and if you ever stop making laundry detergent, you could always use your fish eggs.