If you’ve ever tried dieting or fitness meal plans, you’ve probably come across a special food ingredient: quinoa. In light meals or salads, quinoa usually appears as the main carbohydrate. But what makes quinoa stand out? What are its nutritional advantages? After reading this, you may want to bring quinoa straight to your dining table. The Identity and Status of Quinoa Quinoa, also known as Chenopodium quinoa, is an annual plant native to the Andes region of South America and has been a traditional staple food for Indigenous peoples for thousands of years. Globally, there are over 3,000 known varieties of quinoa, with white, red, and black quinoa being the most common. Called Quinoa, but Not Wheat From a botanical perspective, quinoa belongs to the Amaranthaceae family, the same family as spinach and beets. By contrast, our daily staples such as wheat and rice belong to the grass family (Poaceae). This means that quinoa is not actually a cereal grain, though it is often co...
In modern society, most people live with busy schedules, which makes it easy to overlook the importance of nutrition to the human body. Both nutrient deficiencies and excessive intake can place a burden on the body and may even lead to the development of diseases. Here, we will explore the relationship between nutrition and disease to help everyone understand the importance of a balanced diet for health, while also offering methods and approaches to improve poor eating habits. What is malnutrition? Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances of nutrients caused by an unbalanced diet. Generally, the term “malnutrition” is used to describe nutrient deficiencies, such as insufficient intake of calories, protein, and micronutrients. However, nutrient excess also counts as a form of malnutrition! Nutrition and Disease Mental disorders (depression, bipolar disorder, addiction, etc.) A lack of certain nutrients may cause brain dysfunction, while overeating can in...