4 ms·

Sorry, I deleted my post because someone else posted at the same time a reasonable explanation - a rice substitute ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=602935

by ableal 13y ago

Sorry, I deleted my post because someone else posted at the same time a reasonable explanation - a rice substitute ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6029358 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6029358 ). Thanks for adding information. My original text: "The arid, cool land that quinoa needs was plentiful, since little else could grow there. And thus far, that trait has made it difficult to grow elsewhere." (posted link) "Protein content is very high for a cereal/pseudo-cereal (14% by mass), yet not as high as most beans and legumes." ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinoa http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinoa ) I'm puzzled. Why not stick to beans, which are cheap and plentiful, and come in a wide variety of shapes and colors?

pqqqqq 13y ago
It contains a good amount of all of the essential amino acids (ie the amino acids that your body cannot produce adequately itself). It also has calcium and iron. It's a pretty awesome nutritional food. EDIT: to emphasize, the key advantage of quinoa is that it has a lot of all of the essential amino acids, which is very very rare among plants. I believe the only other plant with all essential amino acids is soy.
- oftenwrong 13y ago
  There are other plants that provide the "complete" protein profile. For example, hemp seeds do.
- lena 13y ago
  It's not very rare at all. It's rare if you compare it to grains, and while quinoa is not a grain, it is usually used instead of a grain. Many beans (e.g. white and black) and vegetables have a complete amino acid profile.
  - mjn 13y ago
    Even potatoes have a complete animo acid profile. Not in the most optimal ratio, but 10 potatoes/day gets you enough of all the essential amino acids. In fact you can live exclusively on potatoes if you add in a source of Vitamin A (like carrots).
danielweber 13y ago
What makes quinoa better than brown rice? How does the cost compare?
- artsrc 13y ago
  Quinoa has more and better protein. Brown rice is cheaper.
  - jff 13y ago
    But oats and wild rice have even more protein.

by ableal 13y ago

pqqqqq 13y ago

It contains a good amount of all of the essential amino acids (ie the amino acids that your body cannot produce adequately itself). It also has calcium and iron. It's a pretty awesome nutritional food. EDIT: to emphasize, the key advantage of quinoa is that it has a lot of all of the essential amino acids, which is very very rare among plants. I believe the only other plant with all essential amino acids is soy.

oftenwrong 13y ago
There are other plants that provide the "complete" protein profile. For example, hemp seeds do.
lena 13y ago
It's not very rare at all. It's rare if you compare it to grains, and while quinoa is not a grain, it is usually used instead of a grain. Many beans (e.g. white and black) and vegetables have a complete amino acid profile.
- mjn 13y ago
  Even potatoes have a complete animo acid profile. Not in the most optimal ratio, but 10 potatoes/day gets you enough of all the essential amino acids. In fact you can live exclusively on potatoes if you add in a source of Vitamin A (like carrots).

danielweber 13y ago

What makes quinoa better than brown rice? How does the cost compare?

artsrc 13y ago
Quinoa has more and better protein. Brown rice is cheaper.
- jff 13y ago
  But oats and wild rice have even more protein.