The Health Benefits Of Quinoa And How It Helps Your Bones - Save Our Bones

Quinoa is a highly nutritious food that has become increasingly popular over the past decade– and for good reasons. Nutrient-rich, versatile and delicious, quinoa is more closely related to spinach or Swiss chard than to grains like wheat and oats.

In fact, it's not a cereal grass at all, but rather a pseudocereal because the quinoa seeds can be ground into flour and prepared the same way as true cereal grasses, such as rice, millet, barley, and sorghum.

Quinoa is antioxidant-rich, gluten-free, and contains several Foundation Supplements. Plus, it's a complete protein source– making it a valuable addition to a diet low in animal protein– perfect for Savers.

Read on to discover the power of this alkalizing pseudocereal and a delicious and easy recipe that will please your taste-buds and your bones.

The History Of Quinoa

Quinoa was first domesticated for human consumption about 3,000 to 4,000 years ago in the Lake Titicaca basin of Peru and Bolivia. There, it became a staple in the early Andean cultures. Beginning in the 13th century, the Incan Empire, the most extensive pre-Columbian civilization in the Western Hemisphere, considered it sacred. This reverence led the colonialist Spanish conquistadors to dismiss quinoa, even forbidding its cultivation.

But quinoa was too resilient and vital to be routed. Although it took a long time for the rest of the world to catch on, it is now a significant part of diets across the globe. There are 120 varieties of quinoa, but you're only likely to find three of them in the grocery store: White Quinoa, the most widely available; Red Quinoa, which stays slightly firmer after cooking; and Black Quinoa which cooks slower and has an earthy flavor.

Whichever you choose, the seeds of the quinoa plant, small and often translucent, are an excellent addition to salads, a hearty substitute for rice, barley and oatmeal.

The Nutritional Profile of Quinoa

Savers take note, quinoa is a robust source of Foundation Supplements, as well as other bone-healthy nutrients.

Manganese

The trace mineral and Foundation Supplement manganese is vital for many enzymatic processes. It plays a critical role regulating the thyroid, making it a key player in the bone resorption cycle.1 It's also necessary for the creation of the connective tissue in cartilage and bone.2

In combination with copper and zinc (also found in quinoa), it forms an integral part of Superoxide Dismutase, a powerful antioxidant that protects your bones from the ravages of free radicals.3

Copper

Copper is in every tissue of your body, which shows how important it is to your whole health, bones included. As mentioned above, copper protects your bones by its function to synthesize superoxide dismutase.3 A co-enzyme called lysyl oxidase facilitates the process of cross-linking collagen and elastin, but it can’t do it without copper. Collagen and elastin form the bone matrix where minerals are deposited.

Magnesium

Magnesium is involved in more than 300 enzymatic processes and is the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body. That's because it is essential for ATP synthesis (adenosine triphosphate), the cellular energy source that allows your cells to function.4

Magnesium is particularly crucial for glutathione synthesis. Glutathione, the master antioxidant, protects and supports your bones in many ways.4

Additionally, your bones can't absorb calcium without magnesium. That makes this mineral a gatekeeper for bone growth, and a deficiency has been shown to increase fracture risk.5

Folate

Also known as Vitamin B9, folate supports bone health by driving the production of glutathione. That same process helps to reduce inflammation by neutralizing the harmful amino acid homocysteine 9

Folate is vital for cellular reproduction and protein synthesis, making it essential for both the construction of muscle and new bone, as well as red blood cell formation and DNA synthesis.

Zinc

Another trace mineral, zinc enhances the production of osteoblasts– the cells that are responsible for the synthesis and mineralization of bone. That makes zinc an under-appreciated bone-builder, as well as a popular immune booster. Keeping up the immune system by fending off colds and the flu helps to reduce general inflammation and maintain wellness, both of which support bone health.10,11

Quercetin

Quinoa is a source of the antioxidant flavonoid quercetin that has been shown to reduce cortisol levels, thereby protecting your bones.18 It has also been shown to balance blood pressure and support cardiovascular and respiratory health.19

Fatty Acids

Quinoa is remarkable for its fatty acid content. It's a great source of Oleic Acid, a monounsaturated fat that improves cardiovascular health.12

It's also an excellent source of the antioxidant Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA). This fatty acid helps synthesize glutathione, increases the cellular uptake of cysteine (a building block of glutathione), resets the antioxidant ability of spent molecules of vitamins C and E. All of these actions protect bone. ALA reduces osteoclast formation, slowing bone resorption, and increasing bone density.13

ALA also protects against cognitive decline, memory loss14, preserves eye health (which protects against fracture-causing falls)15 and is a natural diabetes treatment.16

Protein

Protein is required to build muscle, and muscle is necessary to create new bone. It's an easy leap to understand why protein is essential for bone health. By allowing you to build muscle strength, protein lets you unlock the power of weight-bearing exercise to stimulate the production of new bone– as described by Wolff's Law. Additionally, protein works synergistically with calcium to improve calcium retention and bone metabolism.17

There are many sources of alkalizing, non-animal protein, from beans to greens and many in-between, but among pseudocereals, quinoa stands out as a source of complete protein.

Fiber

Among other functions, fiber has an anti-inflammatory effect. Inflammation increases fracture risk, so fiber can help you protect your bones.6 It also absorbs toxins to help eliminate them from your body. Fiber improves liver health by preventing toxin-laden bile from re-entering the bloodstream near the end of the digestive process.

Fiber's liver-supporting, detoxifying properties help you maintain a balanced pH, which prevents your body from dissolving your bones for their alkalizing minerals.

Fiber consumption has also been linked to improved cardiovascular health, digestive health, and longevity.7,8

Other Health Benefits Of Quinoa

Quinoa's bone-building nutrient profile is reason enough to make it a regular part of your diet, and we'll look at ways to do that soon. But its health benefits don't stop there.

Quinoa has been shown in animal studies to lower total cholesterol and help maintain levels of High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL). These results lead to improved cardiovascular health and apply to humans as well. As a good source of fiber and protein, it helps to regulate healthy blood sugar levels, making it beneficial for preventing or managing Type 2 diabetes.20

As a substitute for glutinous grains, quinoa can circumvent the gluten intolerance or sensitivity that can be hard to manage due to the prevalence of gluten in the Western diet. Chronic gluten intolerance or sensitivity can lead to a number of attendant health issues caused by cortisol and inflammation, including weakened bones.21

How To Get More Quinoa On Your Plate

Quinoa is delicious hot or cold, as part of savory or sweet dishes. You can use it in place of rice in a stir-fry or other dishes, and in place of bulgur or couscous in Middle Eastern dishes like tabouli. You can substitute quinoa flour for wheat flour, and you can even get noodles made from quinoa to make heartier pasta dishes.

Here's a bone-healthy quinoa recipe that is sure to please. It's packed with Foundation Foods, and even though it's completely vegetarian, it's an excellent source of protein– thanks to quinoa!

Quinoa Stuffed Tomatoes

pH-Balanced
4 Servings

  • 8 large tomatoes
  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 2 cups mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil
  • ½ cup goat cheese, crumbled
  • ¼ cup basil, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 cups fresh spinach
  • Black pepper and sea salt, to taste

Directions:

  1. Cook quinoa per package directions and preheat oven to 425°F.
  2. Carefully scoop the seeds out of the tomatoes after slicing the top, and place them in a baking dish.
  3. In a skillet, heat the oil and sauté the onion until translucent. Then add the mushrooms. When almost ready, add the garlic and spinach. Cook until spinach wilts.
  4. Place the mushroom and spinach mixture in a large bowl, then add the basil, quinoa, goat cheese, sea salt and black pepper. Mix to combine.
  5. Fill each tomato with the quinoa mixture and drizzle with a little olive oil.
  6. Bake for about 25 minutes or until done, and serve.
  7. Enjoy!

Try out the many uses of quinoa. You can find it at your local grocery store, often alongside other boxed or bulk grains. It's the sort of bone-building wonder-food that you'll find throughout the Save Institute's recipe book Bone Appétit.

Eat Your Way to Stronger Bones!

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Keep up the spirit of culinary adventure by expanding your palate with new bone-building foods!

Till next time,

References

1 Tomas Landete-Castillejos. Alternative hypothesis for the origin of osteoporosis: The role of Mn. Frontiers in Bioscience, 2012; E4 (1): 1385.

2 Muszynska A, Palka J, Gorodkiewicz E. The mechanism of daunorubicin-induced inhibition of prolidase activity in human skin fibroblasts and its implication to impaired collagen biosynthesis. Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2000;52(2):149-155.

3 Luo, Jun. “Manganese Superoxide Dismutase (MdSOD).” B-180 Medical Laboratories. Free Radical and Radiation Biology Program, University of Iowa. March 2001. Web: https://www.healthcare.uiowa.edu/corefacilities/esr/education/2001/3/LuoJ-paper3.pdf

4 Veronese N., et al. Dietary magnesium intake and fracture risk: data from a large prospective study. British Journal of Nutrition. June 2017. 117(11). 1570-1576. Web: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/dietary-magnesium-intake-and-fracture-risk-data-from-a-large-prospective-study/5EDA2D4C456E52906D658587703875B2

5 Rude RK. Magnesium. In: Ross AC, Caballero B, Cousins RJ, Tucker KL, Ziegler TR, eds. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease. 11th ed. Baltimore, Mass: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2012:159-75.

6 Barbour KE, Boudreau R, Danielson ME, et al. “Inflammatory markers and the risk of hip fracture: the Women’s Health Initiative.” J Bone Miner Res. 2012;27:1167-1176.

7 Pereira MA, O’Reilly E, Augustsson K, et al. “Dietary fiber and risk of coronary heart disease: a pooled analysis of cohort studies.” Arch Intern Med. 2004;164:370-6.

8 Park Y, Subar AF, Hollenbeck A, Schatzkin A. “Dietary fiber intake and mortality in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. Archives of internal medicine.” 2011;171(12):1061-1068.

9 Kaplowitz, N. “The importance and regulation of hepatic glutathione.” Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine. Nov-Dec. 1981. 54(6): 497-502. Web. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2596047/

10 Yamaguchi, M. Role of nutritional zinc in the prevention of osteoporosis.Mol Cell Biochem. 2010 May;338(1-2):241-54.Web: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20035439.

11 Kaltenberg J, et al. Zinc signals promote IL-2-dependent proliferation of T cells. Eur J Immunol. 2010 May;40(5):1496-503. Web: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20201035.

12 Perez-Jimenez F., et al. International conference on the healthy effect of virgin olive oil. Eur J Clin Invest. 2005 Jul;35(7):421-4. Web. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16008542

13 Koh JM, Lee YS, Byun CH, et al. Alpha-lipoic acid suppresses osteoclastogenesis despite increasing the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand/osteoprotegerin ratio in human bone marrow stromal cells. J Endocrinol. 2005 Jun;185(3):401-13. Web. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15930166

14 Packer L, Tritschler HJ, Wessel K. Neuroprotection by the metabolic antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid. Free Radic Biol Med. 1997;22(1-2):359-78. Web. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8958163

15 Filina AA, Davydova NG, Endrikhovskii SN, Shamshinova AM. Lipoic acid as a means of metabolic therapy of open-angle glaucoma. Vestn Oftalmol. 1995 Oct;111(4):6-8. Web. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8604540

16 Kamenova P. Improvement of insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after oral administration of alpha-lipoic acid. Hormones (Athens). 2006 Oct-Dec;5(4):251-8. Web. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17178700

17 Kerstetter JE, Kenny AM, Insogna KL. Dietary protein and skeletal health: a review of recent human research. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2011 Feb;22(1):16-20. Web: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21102327

18 Cheng LC, Li LA. Flavonoids exhibit diverse effects on CYP11B1 expression and cortisol synthesis. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2012 Feb 1;258(3):343-50. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2011.11.017. Epub 2011 Dec 8.

19 Edwards RL, Lyon T, Litwin SE, Rabovsky A, Symons JD, Jalili T. Quercetin reduces blood pressure in hypertensive subjects. J Nutr. 2007 Nov;137(11):2405-11.

20 James LEA. Chapter 1: Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.): Composition, Chemistry, Nutritional, and Functional Properties. Advances in Food and Nutrition Research, Volume 58, 2009, Pages 1-31. 2009.

21 Barbour KE, Boudreau R, Danielson ME, et al. “Inflammatory markers and the risk of hip fracture: the Women’s Health Initiative.” J Bone Miner Res. 2012;27:1167-1176. Web. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22392817

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Comments on this article are closed.

  1. Glory B.

    Great article and follow-up comments/replies. It’s a good reminder to me to pull the quinoa out of the kitchen cabinet and cook some up regularly!
    I’ll often cook it in vegetable broth instead of plain water to give it a nice taste.

  2. Betty

    Vivian Thanks for all the information about quinoa. I’ve got to read it all again including the recipe. I’ve sent it to New Zealand and now I’m sending it to Brazil and N Ireland. So helpful to get all your information.

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      You’re welcome, Betty, and thank you for sharing this information around the world!

  3. Teriza

    I have used quinoa for many years in a variety of recipes BUT the first thing about quinoa is to soak it for ages before use to reduce the saponins and phytic acid. The link below advises 12 – 24 hours. I soak mine for 72 hours, thus needing a three day heads up before actually cooking it.

    https://thecrushingcancerkitchen.com/greens/perfectly-cooked-soaked-quinoa/

  4. Deb Paras

    This is wonderful news! I have been having Quinoa Flakes with a little honey added for breakfast most mornings since becoming a Saver almost 3 years ago. I like it better than oatmeal and often add berries – delicious!

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      That sounds delicious, Deb! The berries make that a 100% alkalizing, healthful breakfast dish.

  5. Marlene

    Good morning Vivian,
    Thank you very much for sharing these EXCELLENT
    information, Vivian.

    Have a wonderful day.
    Marlene

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      You’re most welcome, Marlene!

  6. June Poole

    What is the carbohydrate content and glycemic load of quinoa? Just don’t want to overload on it.
    Thanks for all the valuable information.

  7. Carol

    Thanks Vivian for the recipe and helpful information. I am going to be making quinoa and black bean patties for lunch today. Good to know that quinoa is related more to spinach or Swiss chard than to grains and how helpful it is for protecting our bones.

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      I am really glad this was relevant for you, Carol – and those patties sound delicious!

  8. Aidan Gribbin

    Apparently it’s important to pressure cook quinoa if you’re eating it regularly.
    (According to Dr Stephen Gundry- the plant paradox)

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      Thanks for the tip, Aiden! Pressure cooking whole grains can certainly save energy and time.

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