Quinoa contains all nine essential amino acids that the human body cannot synthesize. Protein is absorbed by human body through amino acids. The balance and proper supply of amino acids is the basic premise of human health. Lack of any kind of amino acid supply will affect the immune system and other normal functions, making people in a sub-health state, more prone to illness and decreased immunity.
Amino acids are the basic units for the synthesis of protein in vivo. Protein, as the first nutrient element in the body, can't be directly utilized in the human body, but can be reused after being turned into small amino acid molecules, that is, through the action of various digestive enzymes, the macromolecular protein is decomposed into low molecular weight peptides or amino acids in the gastrointestinal tract, and then absorbed in the small intestine and enters the liver along the hepatic portal vein. Some amino acids decompose or synthesize new protein in the liver; Another part of amino acids continue to distribute to various tissues and organs with blood, and can be selected at will to synthesize various specific tissue proteins. These resynthesis processes require the participation of essential amino acids obtained from external food.
Essential amino acids refer to amino acids that the human body can't synthesize or the speed of synthesis can't meet the needs of the human body and must be ingested from food. For adults, there are eight kinds of amino acids, including lysine, methionine, leucine, isoleucine, threonine, valine, tryptophan and phenylalanine. Histidine is also an essential amino acid for infants. Non-essential amino acids do not mean that the human body does not need these amino acids, but that the human body can synthesize them by itself or transform them from other amino acids without directly taking them from food.
Essential amino acids that the human body cannot synthesize have the following functions:
① Lysine: it promotes brain development, is a component of liver and gallbladder, can promote fat metabolism, regulate pineal gland, breast, corpus luteum and ovary, and prevent cell degeneration;
② Tryptophan: promoting the production of gastric juice and pancreatic juice;
(3) phenylalanine: involved in eliminating the loss of kidney and bladder function;
④ Methionine (also called methionine); Participate in the composition of hemoglobin, tissue and serum, and promote spleen, pancreas and lymph;
⑤ Threonine: It can transform some amino acids to achieve balance;
⑥ Isoleucine: involved in the regulation and metabolism of thymus, spleen and submandibular gland; The general command of submandibular gland acts on thyroid gland and gonad;
⑦ Leucine: plays the role of balancing isoleucine;
8 Viline: acts on corpus luteum, breast and ovary.
In addition, the compound preparation composed of various amino acids is one of the indispensable drug varieties in modern medicine. Amino acids such as glutamic acid, arginine, aspartic acid, cystine and levodopa can be used alone to treat some diseases, mainly for treating liver diseases, digestive tract diseases, encephalopathy, cardiovascular diseases and respiratory diseases, as well as improving muscle vitality, pediatric nutrition and detoxification. In addition, amino acid derivatives are also promising in cancer treatment. Pregnant women's demand for various nutrients during pregnancy is very strong, and the total nutritional characteristics and high content of quinoa can just provide enough nutrition for pregnant women. As we all know, every cell formation in the body needs protein's participation, and the fetus needs more high-quality protein in the whole growth process. The protein content of quinoa is as high as 16%-22%, which is a high-quality complete protein. The quality and content can be comparable to skim milk powder and meat, which is not available in other plant foods. Protein is actually absorbed by human body through amino acids, among which 9 essential amino acids are amino acids that human body can't synthesize by itself or the speed of synthesis can't meet human needs, so it must be ingested from food. Quinoa contains all these nine essential amino acids in a very high proportion, which is suitable for human absorption, especially rich in lysine lacking in other grains. Quinoa is definitely the best choice for pregnant women who have severe reactions during pregnancy, are tired of greasy food and meat, and like light vegetarian food.
There is a high demand for minerals during pregnancy. The mineral content of quinoa is almost higher than that of ordinary grains, and the manganese content is the highest. Among the top ten healthiest foods in the world, the manganese content is rated as "excellent", and 1/4 cups of quinoa can provide 50% of the manganese needed by adults in one day. Manganese is very important to the regeneration system, which can ensure the normal development of fetal intelligence and bones. Pregnant women are also most prone to iron deficiency, zinc deficiency and calcium deficiency during pregnancy. The iron content of quinoa is four times that of wheat, which can prevent iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy; Quinoa is rich in zinc (the content of zinc in ordinary grains is very little), which can prevent fetal central nervous system malformation, intrauterine growth retardation and brain growth retardation, and also help pregnant women recover from postpartum uterus and prevent postpartum hemorrhage; The calcium content of quinoa is four times that of wheat, which can help the fetus grow strong bones, healthy hearts, nerves and muscles.
Chenopodium album has the characteristics of high dietary fiber and low sugar, and can also help pregnant women reduce constipation symptoms and reduce the probability of diabetes during pregnancy.
When the baby is born, the quality of the mother's milk is very important for the baby's growth. How can we prevent pregnant women from eating too much and being too greasy, increase the risk of obesity and improve the quality of breast milk? Eat more quinoa, of course.
After the baby starts to eat complementary food, it is still inseparable from quinoa. Quinoa is used as a substitute food for milk powder in the country of origin. Quinoa is easy to digest and tastes good. Can provide the baby with enough high-quality protein and various trace elements and minerals necessary for the human body, enhance the resistance and help the baby grow up healthily. For example, magnesium not only helps the baby's metabolism, but also prevents cardiovascular tissue from absorbing harmful elements such as lead and cadmium; Omega 3 plays a decisive role in baby's intelligence and retinal development; Quinoa does not contain gluten, which can be eaten by babies who just started to eat complementary food and babies who are allergic to gluten, and can also reduce the occurrence of children's celiac disease, infant eczema and tinea lactis. Compared with ordinary grains, quinoa has the highest manganese content, and among the top ten healthiest foods in the world, the manganese content is evaluated as "excellent". Manganese is a mineral element, which we seldom hear about, but it is a very important antioxidant, which participates in many biochemical metabolic processes of human body, such as regulating blood sugar level, stimulating enzyme activity of digesting and absorbing important nutrients; Decompose fat and cholesterol to produce energy; Manganese is an important component of enzymes that metabolize carbohydrates and fats. Manganese is very important for the regeneration system, especially during pregnancy. 1/4 cup of raw quinoa can provide 50% manganese for adults.
Quinoa contains a lot of zinc, and many grains contain almost no zinc. Zinc is known as "flower of life" and "the source of intelligence" and is one of the important trace elements in human body. Its function is to promote cell division, growth and regeneration, improve immunity and promote wound or wound healing by participating in enzyme synthesis and metabolism, which is necessary for healthy growth and development. Some important hormones are inseparable from zinc, such as insulin, pancreatic growth factor I(IGF-I), growth hormone and sex hormone. Children and teenagers have a strong demand for zinc, which promotes their physical development, intellectual development and vision development, and accelerates their physical growth. Zinc deficiency in pregnant women will make amniotic fluid lack antibacterial activity, affect the synthesis of ribonucleic acid, and lead to fetal hypoplasia. For adults, zinc plays an important role in the reproductive system and gonad function of the body. It has been suggested that quinoa, the staple food for dinner, can improve sexual function.
Quinoa is rich in magnesium, which can prevent cardiovascular tissues from absorbing harmful elements such as lead and cadmium, thus protecting the cardiovascular system. Magnesium is one of the essential minerals to maintain the normal body, and it is also an essential element in many biochemical metabolism processes. The most important thing is to participate in a series of reverse reactions of phosphorylation and dephosphorization between adenosine diphosphate and adenosine triphosphate in energy metabolism in vivo, thus maintaining the structure and function of the central nervous system. Magnesium can promote gene expression and make people young. Animal experiments show that adequate intake of magnesium can reduce serum cholesterol and change the proportion of blood lipid components, which may also be one of the effective factors for magnesium to treat cardiovascular diseases.
Quinoa has a high calcium content, which is four times that of wheat. Calcium is very important to human body, which is not only related to the health, growth and development of bones and teeth, but also can relieve hypertension and premenstrual tension syndrome and maintain the metabolic balance of the body. In South America, quinoa is also used to treat bone injuries. Grind into powder, soak in wine for 24 hours, make paste, apply it directly to the fracture, and fix it with plaster. The effect is wonderful.
Quinoa contains four times as much iron as wheat. Iron is an indispensable trace element for human health and an indispensable substance for tissue metabolism. Iron deficiency can cause a variety of tissue changes and dysfunction, such as affecting the development of lymphoid tissue and anti-infection ability. The content of iron in adults is about 3g ~ 5g, of which 2/3 is concentrated in hemoglobin. Although the content of iron in human body is small, it plays an important physiological role. Iron is an important component of human hemoglobin. The reason why hemoglobin can transport oxygen to every cell in the whole body and transport CO2 produced by every cell during metabolism is closely related to its iron-containing components, and iron deficiency can easily lead to iron deficiency anemia.
The content of copper in quinoa is extremely high, which is 9 times that of wheat. Copper is the active component of more than 30 enzymes such as ascorbic acid oxidase and cytochrome oxidase in human body. It is an extremely effective catalyst for redox reaction system in metabolism and shows great versatility in various chemical reactions. Copper is a very unique catalyst in organisms. Copper is an important component of plasma ceruloplasmin, and a small amount of copper is also essential to maintain the integrity of circulation. If copper is lacking, it will also cause anemia. Copper also plays an important role in bone growth, hair coloring and collagen synthesis. There is no copper in the human body, and there are symptoms such as curly hair, light and brittle color, pale face, stagnant development and mental retardation. It may happen, and some may also have osteoporosis, leukopenia, copper deficiency in children, and may easily cause convulsions. Copper also has detoxification effect. Copper-containing superoxide dismutase exists in red blood cells, liver and brain tissues. Superoxide dismutase can rapidly decompose toxic superoxide in the body. Superoxide dismutase also plays an important role in anti-aging and preventing skin aging.
The content of potassium in quinoa is very high, but the content of sodium is only 1/8 of that of wheat, which conforms to the healthy eating habit of low sodium and high potassium. Potassium is an indispensable substance to sustain life. Together with sodium, it regulates the balance of water in the body and makes the heartbeat regular. Potassium is very important for chemical reactions in cells and plays a very important role in helping to maintain stable blood pressure and the conduction of nerve activities. Potassium deficiency will reduce the excitability of muscles, make the contraction and relaxation of muscles unable to proceed smoothly, and it is easy to get tired. In addition, it will also hinder the peristalsis of the intestine and cause constipation; It can also cause edema, hemiplegia and heart attack. When potassium intake is insufficient, sodium will bring a lot of water into cells, causing cell rupture and edema. Lack of potassium in the blood will raise blood sugar, leading to hyperglycemia. In addition, potassium deficiency is the most serious damage to the heart, which may be the main cause of death from heart disease.
Quinoa contains high selenium content. Selenium is praised as "the kindling of life" by medical and nutritional circles at home and abroad, and enjoys the reputation of "longevity element", "king of anticancer", "patron saint of heart" and "natural antidote". Clinical medicine has proved that selenium can obviously enhance immunity. Selenium is an important component of some antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase) and selenium-p protein in animals and human bodies. Selenium can reduce the activity of cancer-causing hydroxylase, increase the activity of detoxification enzyme and directly kill cancer cells. Selenium affects the activities of DNA polymerase and nucleoside kinase and repairs DNA. Selenium can increase the activities of GHS-Ps and SOD, and improve the antioxidant capacity of diseased tissues. It can eliminate free radicals and toxins in the body. Selenium is the active component of glutathione peroxidase, which can prevent the oxidative damage of islet β cells and make them function normally. Scientific selenium supplementation has a good effect on preventing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, hypertension and arteriosclerosis. Selenium can prevent bone marrow lesions, promote repair, and has a good preventive and therapeutic effect on patients with Keshan disease and arthritis. The incidence of liver cancer is negatively correlated with blood selenium level, and selenium can significantly reduce the incidence of liver cancer. Medical research has proved that if selenium is combined with vitamin E and beta-carotene, the antioxidant effect will be better. The selenium, vitamin E and β -carotene of quinoa are higher than those of ordinary grains, and it is a rare natural anti-cancer and antioxidant food.
Quinoa has a high phosphorus content. Phosphorus is an important component of human genetic material nucleic acid, and also an important component of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the key substance of human energy conversion. Phosphorus is also a component of many enzymes. Biofilm phospholipids are important components of bones and teeth and play a very important role in human life activities. Phosphorus participates in the regulation of acid-base balance and helps the metabolism of glucose, protein and fat. Phosphorus is also an essential element for all cells of organisms, and it is necessary to maintain the integrity of cell membranes and play a role in cells. Phospholipid is the main lipid component on cell membrane, which is related to membrane permeability. Promote the decomposition of fats and fatty acids, and prevent the accumulation of excessive acid or alkali in blood. The role of phosphorus also affects the acid-base balance in plasma and cells, promotes the absorption of substances, stimulates the secretion of hormones, and is beneficial to nerve and mental activities. Phosphorus can stimulate nerves and muscles, and make the heart and muscles contract regularly. Phosphorus contributes to cell division, proliferation and protein synthesis, and transfers genetic characteristics from the previous generation to the next generation. In the process of bone development and maturity, the balance of calcium and phosphorus is helpful to the utilization of inorganic salts. Phosphate can regulate the metabolism of vitamin D and maintain the internal environment stability of calcium. Quinoa is rich in minerals such as magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron, calcium, potassium, selenium, copper and phosphorus, which is more than three times higher than ordinary food on average. These elements participate in more than 300 kinds of enzyme activities to ensure the normal operation of the human body. One of the enzymes is involved in the utilization of glucose in vivo and the function and secretion of islet β cells. Studies have confirmed that eating quinoa regularly will reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes. Quinoa is still the best choice for people who already have type 2 diabetes. Quinoa contains high-quality high-fiber carbohydrates, which can be digested slowly, which can ensure that the postprandial blood sugar level will not rise too much and reduce the chances of diabetic complications. Quinoa is easy to digest, but slow to digest, which is equivalent to the slow release of nutrients in the body. It has little burden on digestive system and circulatory system, and is a very healthy food. Its glycemic index is only 35, which is far below the standard of hypoglycemia food (the value is 55), which is 1/2 of rice and the lowest among almost all cereals. .
Quinoa is a zero-cholesterol food, which is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids from plants, among which omega-3 content is very high (including α -linolenic acid, DHA and EPA). It is the only essential fatty acid that human body must get from food. In recent years, scientists have deeply realized its importance to human body and become the latest research object of life science and technology. Omega-3 is closely related to human health and wisdom. It can not only promote the development of nerves and brain cells, but also significantly reduce blood cholesterol, triglyceride and blood viscosity, and increase the activity of β cells in islet tissue. It is widely used to inhibit hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, depression, chronic diseases and so on. It has a significant effect on inhibiting cancer and enhancing immunity.
Isoflavones rich in quinoa combine with vitamin E to help blood circulation soften blood vessels, which can obviously promote glucose and lipid metabolism and insulin secretion. Many studies show that it has obvious therapeutic effect on diabetes.
The content of potassium in quinoa is very high, but the content of sodium is only 1/8 of that of wheat, which conforms to the healthy dietary standard of low sodium and high potassium. Potassium is an indispensable substance to sustain life. Together with sodium, it regulates the balance of water in the body and makes the heartbeat regular. Adequate potassium intake in diet can effectively relieve vascular pressure, treat and prevent hypertension and protect blood vessels. In addition, potassium also plays a very important role in the conduction of nerve activity; Lack of potassium in the blood will increase blood sugar, which will easily lead to hyperglycemia; Potassium deficiency is the most serious damage to the heart, and potassium deficiency may be the main cause of death from heart disease.
Sticking to quinoa for breakfast every day can not only maintain good blood sugar and blood pressure, but also reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases and heart diseases. Quinoa is low in fat, sugar and starch, and its calorific value is only 305 kcal/100g (rice is 350 kcal), so it will not accumulate too much calories in the body and lead to obesity. In addition, the balanced nutritional characteristics of quinoa can prevent obesity caused by overnutrition. Quinoa is an alkaline food. When the pH value of human body is higher than 7, the oxygen content in blood increases, which helps to consume fat.
Quinoa is a completely protein and nutritious food, which means that you can reduce the total consumption of other foods. Adding a small amount of quinoa to every meal can ensure health and nutrition. If you stay away from diet pills and dieting, you will still have a charming and slim figure.
Quinoa contains high-quality and high-fiber carbohydrates, and its digestion speed is slow, which can prolong the next meal time and avoid the hunger and pain caused by eating low-calorie foods.
When cooked, quinoa will swell 3-4 times, which will make you feel full. Eating quinoa will make you feel full than eating standard diet food, which can reduce the number of meals each time.
Many pregnant women choose to eat quinoa after giving birth to their babies to quickly recover their bodies. The total nutritional characteristics of quinoa can effectively improve the quality of milk, so that pregnant women don't have to eat too much greasy food to ensure the nutrition of themselves and milk, which leads to obesity.
Quinoa is a good ingredient, which can be matched with almost any food. In the diet menu, matching with other healthy foods can play an unexpected role. Many supermodels have a soft spot for quinoa in order to keep fit. Gluten is a mixture of a series of single protein, and these protein can be divided into two groups-gliadin and glutenin. Gluten (also known as gluten) is high in common grains, such as wheat and rice.
Gluten is a common protein of most people, which is easily digested by gastrointestinal tract. However, a few people can't digest gluten.
When people with this disease eat food containing gluten, their immune system will react and destroy the hair in the small intestine, especially the inner layer of the small intestine, leading to diarrhea, abdominal pain and other symptoms. This is the most common disease, gluten is not indicated-celiac disease.
According to statistics, 30 million people in the United States have different degrees of gluten allergy, and the incidence of celiac disease in Europe is 3-4‰. Hospitals in China haven't checked the symptoms of gluten allergy, but many people are reported to have gluten allergy. Quinoa does not contain gluten, and people who are allergic to gluten can eat it, especially children with celiac disease. Quinoa is a good choice for babies who have just eaten complementary food, which can reduce the inadaptability to complementary food, reduce the occurrence of diarrhea, eczema and milk tinea, and provide comprehensive nutrition. Quinoa contains natural phytoestrogens, which are not hormones in itself, but mainly isoflavones (one of flavonoids), with more soybean content and trace amounts in most fruits and vegetables. Phytoestrogens can be regarded as exogenous compounds of human beings and other mammals, which are very beneficial to men and women of different ages. Clinically, it is often used to lower blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipid, and prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, atherosclerosis and other diseases, especially for breast cancer, prostate cancer, menopausal syndrome, cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis.
Phytoestrogens can prevent breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer, because phytoestrogens compete with estradiol to bind er, thus inhibiting the mitogenic effect of estradiol on tumor cells and inhibiting the growth of tumor cells. Phytoestrogens also have antioxidant effects. In addition, phytoestrogens have a good protective effect on cardiovascular system. For example, the combination of isoflavones and ER can reduce the content of cholesterol in the body and reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases such as hypercholesterolemia and arteriosclerosis.
Phytoestrogens have the functions of estrogen agonists and blockers, and have a good preventive and therapeutic effect on some diseases and hormone-related diseases caused by postmenopausal estrogen reduction. Quinoa has high edible value, unique taste and simple eating method. Although quinoa belongs to Chenopodiaceae, its eating method is basically similar to ordinary whole grains, and the methods are diverse and simple, so everyone treats quinoa as a special whole grains to cook. Quinoa has a unique taste. When cooking, it contains the smell of nuts or ginseng, and there is a slight crunch when chewing, which is very popular with children and can also increase their appetite. Quinoa is an easy-to-cook food, which can reduce cooking time and is the first choice for busy people. It can also save natural gas or electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
There is a layer of water-soluble saponin on the surface of unprocessed quinoa seeds. Before eating, it needs to be soaked in clear water for several times to avoid astringency. The seeds of quinoa sold in the market are all washed, with no saponin or little content. If you want a better taste, you'd better wash it several times before eating. Gleditsia saponin is a kind of plant glycoside, which tastes slightly bitter. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that saponin of Gleditsia sinensis has antibacterial, antipyretic, sedative and anticancer effects, and ginsenoside is an expensive health care product.
Nowadays, quinoa is a hot healthy food and fashionable food in Europe and America, and it is also a hot topic in cooking media. Quinoa has short cooking time and high nutrition, so it often appears in rich breakfast porridge for adults and infants. The common way to eat in the United States is usually to mix four glasses of water with one cup of quinoa, and then add other whole grains. If you eat it in the morning, you will add honey, almonds and berries. In addition, quinoa is also very suitable for matching with slightly bitter vegetables (such as Chinese cabbage), which can cover up the bitterness. Quinoa is also an ideal raw material for cereal salads and fresh vegetables.