Was cutting down on or getting rid of foods with gluten your New Year’s
resolution? Or are you giving up gluten for Lent?
Well, if it’s for the New year or Lent, you may want to make the side dish
listed below.
The side dish: A Quinoa-based Pilaf.

That’s right, Quinoa, the protein-packed grain that’s gaining in popularity
here in the U.S. and if going gluten-free isn’t that important to you, then you
may want to add quinoa to your daily menus because of the health benefits.

The health benefits:
* Stimulate thyroid function-
Quinoa is packed with beneficial nutrient and antioxidants that slow down
the abnormal secretion of thyroid hormones.
* Soothe Inflammation-
Get rid of winter aches and pain in time for Spring by adding more
quinoa to your diet.
Compounds in Quinoa, has been shown to help eliminate bad gut
bacteria so the good can thrive.Plus, the grain eases inflammation to
reduce muscle stiffness by 70%.
* Increase Satiety-
Lose weight for the Spring season.
Quinoa, adds 5 grams of metabolism-revving protein and 3 grams
of filling fiber per serving, plus delivers an amino acid shown to dial down
hunger-hormone output.

So, there you have it, 3 health benefits you can get just by adding a few servings
of quinoa to your daily menus. And to help you on your path of more quinoa-inclusive
meals, here’s a recipe for a Quinoa-based Pilaf dish.

Lemon-Scallion Quinoa Pilaf!
This dish is is extra decadent, thanks to the buttery dressing.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups of dry quinoa
3 Tbs. of Butter, melted
2 lemons, zested and juiced
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup of toasted sliced almonds
To make:
In a pot over high heat, combine quinoa and 3 cups of water.
Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15 mins.
In a bowl, mix butter, 3 Tbs. of lemon juice and 1 tsp. of zest.
Add the quinoa, scallions and almonds, toss well.
Calories per serving-285, Pro-7g. Carbs-32g.

Sources:
* Journal Science
* Vincent Pedre, M.D.
* LifeSpa, Holistic Health Center, Boulder Col.

Please make sure you pass this article (and recipe) on to family
and friends who are including more quinoa in their daily meals.
Share it over at Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, (stories), Reddit,
Pinterest, Tik-Tok, and Twitter.

Thank-You!