Organic Quinoa

• Just one cup of quinoa (185g) contains 222 kcal and about 8.14g of protein, that’s about twice the amount of protein in one cup of rice or in one matchbox size of meat. • It also has all the essential amino acids our bodies need! This makes it an ideal protein source for vegetarians who rely on plant protein to get their daily recommendations. • It also has about 5.2g of fiber per cup – 20% of the fiber recommendation (25g) per day. • It is a good source of iron, magnesium, manganese, folate, zinc and contains heart healthy oils, vitamin E and more. • Quinoa does not contain gluten, whether whole or ground into flour, making it a viable substitute and component for gluten free diets especially in baking. Because of quinoa’s bland flavor with a light nutty accent, versatility is one of its strengths. It can be used to substitute rice and grains, added to soups or salads for texture, act as a side dish, main or even dessert. So really, you could use it anywhere and it’s really simple to cook! After thoroughly rinsing out the grains, simmer two parts liquid to one part quinoa until soft and translucent, and voila, it’s ready to eat. Quinoa is available in local supermarkets and health stores, so why don’t you give it a try? But even though quinoa and other super foods are rich with nutrients, no one food is complete, and eating just a handful of foods can be boring. Eating a variety of foods in balanced meals and in moderate amounts are still the keys to optimum health and nutrition. Explore your options and keep an eye out for other delicious and nutritious foods to try. • Manila Doctors Hospital ProHealth Center is a specialty education and research center that provides intensive and effective education programs to patients and families to promote healthy living. Services include diet counseling, tailor-fitting a diet according to your lifestyle for weight reduction or weight gain, and nutrition and disease education on common medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.