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Article: "Mother Grain" quinoa packed with protein, nutrients.
- Article from:
- Environmental Nutrition
- Article date:
- March 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Belvoir Media Group, LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The Folklore: A native of the Andes, quinoa (KEEN-wah) dates back more than 5,000 years. Called "the mother grain" by the ancient Incas, quinoa sustained the Inca people and was considered sacred. After a 400-year decline in quinoa production that began with the Spanish conquest, quinoa is now on a comeback. While most quinoa is still grown in South America, it is now also cultivated in Colorado and Canada.
The Facts: Quinoa is not actually a grain, but a fruit seed from the quinoa plant (Chenopodium quinoa). It produces flat, oval-shaped seeds that are usually pale yellow but can range in color from pink to black. Quinoa seeds are naturally coated with saponin, ...