Quinoa - Health Benefits and Recipes

Quinoa is a nutrient-rich seed that is often considered a whole grain. It is gluten-free and a good source of protein and fiber.

Quinoa FAQ

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What is a quinoa seed?

Quinoa (pronounced ”KEEN-wah”) is a small, round seed that people in South America have eaten for thousands of years. Today, this food has become a staple grain in the U.S. and other Western countries. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission.

Where did quinoa come from?

Quinoa was first grown for food 7,000 years ago in the Andes. The Incas called it “the mother grain” and believed it was sacred ( 2 ). Although it’s now grown around the world, the majority is still produced in Bolivia and Peru. It was largely unknown to the rest of the world until very recently ( 1 ).

Is quinoa a superfood?

Quinoa is an ancient South American grain that was largely ignored for centuries. Interestingly, it was only recently noticed by the rest of the world and hailed as a “superfood” due to its high nutritional content. It is now considered a specialty food by foodies and the health conscious.

Is quinoa a plant?

Quinoa is a member of the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae), which also contains beetroot, chard ( Beta vulgaris) and spinach ( Spinacia oleracea ). Quinoa is an annual plant that can grow up to 2 metres tall.

Why is quinoa important?

Quinoa's genetic diversity illustrates that it was and is a vital crop. Andean agronomists and nutrition scientists began researching quinoa in the early twentieth century, and it became the subject of much interest among researchers involved in neglected and underutilized crop studies in the 1970s.