Chenopodium quinoa
Chenopodium quinoa (commonly known as quinoa) is a flowering plant in the amaranth family. It is a grain crop grown primarily for its edible seeds. Quinoa is not a grass, but rather a pseudocereal, similar to amaranth and buckwheat.
History[edit | edit source]
Quinoa was first domesticated by the Andean people around 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. It has been an important staple in the Andean cultures where the plant is indigenous but has become increasingly popular in the rest of the world.
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Quinoa plants thrive in a variety of conditions, but prefer well-drained soil and a relatively cool climate. The plants are typically sown in rows, and are self-fertile. The seeds are harvested once they have turned from green to a golden brown.
Nutritional Value[edit | edit source]
Quinoa seeds are rich in protein, dietary fiber, B vitamins, and dietary minerals in amounts greater than in many grains. It is gluten-free and considered easy to digest. Because of these characteristics, quinoa is being considered a possible crop in NASA's Controlled Ecological Life Support System for long-duration human occupied spaceflights.
Culinary Use[edit | edit source]
Quinoa seeds are used in a variety of dishes, such as breakfast cereals, soups, salads, and desserts. They can be cooked in a similar manner to rice, and can also be used as a flour in baking.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
This <a href="/wiki/Pseudocereals" title="Pseudocereals">pseudocereal</a>-related article is a <a href="/wiki/Stub" title="Stub">stub</a>. You can help <a href="/wiki/WikiMD" title="WikiMD">WikiMD</a> by expanding it.
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
