| If you have been diagnosed with a gluten sensitivity, | | | | brought quinoa to the United States where they |
| most grain products are not in your diet. That's | | | | began cultivating it in the elevations of the Rocky |
| because grains are the primary source of gluten. You | | | | Mountains. It is also being grown in Canada. Quinoa is |
| may believe that you won't be able to enjoy many | | | | now available in many health food stores and quinoa |
| of your favorite foods, like pasta and cereals, again. | | | | and products like pasta and cereal made from quinoa |
| There is good news. Quinoa can be used as a gluten | | | | are available at many online retailers. |
| free alternative in making pastas, breads and cereals. | | | | The seed of the quinoa plant is coated with a bitter |
| It can even be used to replace rice and barley in | | | | tasting resin called saponin. Quinoa which is sold in |
| soups. | | | | retail stores has usually been rinsed to remove the |
| Quinoa isn't a new miracle discovery. In fact it has | | | | saponin, but it is a good idea to rinse the seeds again |
| been a staple crop of the indigenous peoples of the | | | | before use. You can tell if saponin is still present by |
| Andes Mountains for over 6000 years. The Incas | | | | swishing the seeds in clear water. Saponin will create |
| called it the "mother grain" and used it in religious | | | | suds. The natives of the Andes use saponin as a |
| rites. Quinoa isn't an actual grain, its a seed. The | | | | detergent and an antiseptic for treating wounds. |
| quinoa plant is related to spinach, swiss chard and | | | | Quinoa can be cooked the same way as rice, two |
| beets. The seed has many of the properties found in | | | | parts water to one part quinoa. Add the quinoa to |
| grains. | | | | boiling water, lower the heat and cook for about 15 |
| Unlike most grains, quinoa contains a complete | | | | minutes. The seeds are light and fluffy with a slight |
| protein. With other grains it is usually necessary to | | | | crunch. The seeds can be eaten hot, or cooled and |
| use legumes to create a complete protein. It is high in | | | | used as an additive to salads. The flavor is mild and |
| eight essential amino (fatty) acids and it's a good | | | | rather nutty. |
| source of vitamin E and several of the B vitamins. | | | | Quinoa flour is usually mixed with tapioca and other |
| This makes it especially good as a grain substitute in | | | | ingredients and can be substituted for wheat flour in |
| gluten free diets as most people get the majority of | | | | many recipes. There are also recipes available online |
| their B vitamins from baked goods. Quinoa contains | | | | and in health food stores for quinoa and quinoa flour. |
| between14% and 18% protein, with characteristics | | | | If you have a sensitivity to gluten, you can still have |
| similar to milk protein. Quinoa is also a source of | | | | your cake and eat it too by simply substituting this |
| calcium and iron. | | | | gluten free alternative to grains. |
| In the 1980s two enterprising young Americans | | | | |