Why Quinoa is Good for You?

These tiny seeds are loaded with a wide range of nutrients. Here are some of the ones that may affect mental performance:

• Quinoa contains an extremely high amount of protein (8 grams in a cup of cooked quinoa). Including protein in your meals helps you feel full and helps stabilize blood sugar levels, preventing that feeling of "crashing" or sluggishness.
• Quinoa is a great source of iron (35% Daily Value per cup of cooked quinoa). Why is iron such a big deal for the brain? It plays a crucial role in generating energy for the brain's neurons, also for the making of neurotransmitters (the little messengers within the nervous system) and the myelin sheath that insulates nerves. Iron deficiency anemia has been linked to fatigue and apathy and, in young children, interferes with proper development of cognitive functions.
• Quinoa is a good source of Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), which is crucial for energy production, including the proper metabolism of the fuels our bodies need:carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The brain has high energy demands, which means the fuel-supplying mechanism should keep in good working order. One cup of cooked quinoa provides 15% of the Daily Value of Vitamin B2. (Most of our cereals and flours are fortified with the B-vitamins, but quinoa is naturally high in this nutrient.)