Quinoa: A Powerhouse of Nutrition and Its 15 Benefits

The quinoa craze is more than just another fading food fad. Pronounced KEEN-wah, this ancient grain might have been crowned queen of the superfoods at least a decade ago, but it has yet to lose its momentum. The reason? It’s just that good for you — and it tastes great too! Whether you choose to boil it for breakfast, serve it as a side dish, or stick it in a stew, one thing’s for sure: you’re going to reap some serious health benefits when you add quinoa to your diet.

1. Prevents Blood Sugar Spikes

Quinoa has a low glycemic index (or GI), which means it won’t cause blood sugar levels to spike after eating it. High GI foods can put people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes at risk excess glucose in the bloodstream. If blood glucose levels remain too high for too long, it can cause serious long-term health problems, including kidney and nerve damage.

Simply swapping out high-GI foods, like white bread or pasta, for low-GI foods, like quinoa, is a great way to keep blood sugar levels stable.