eru’s famous grain, quinoa, is currently in the spotlight following news that Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak had switched from locally grown rice to quinoa.
"I don't eat rice. I eat quinoa [...] It's protein-based, has less carbohydrates and sugar content, so it's better than rice," said Najib.
Putting all political arguments aside, Najib is actually right about the benefits of quinoa.
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Pamela Teh Charlynn, a co-founder of ready-to-eat granola Nature Treats, told The Jakarta Post that quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) was classified as a superfood because the grain was packed with protein, minerals and Omega-3 fatty acids.
She also mentioned that quinoa was a gluten-free grain that can be used to replace carbohydrates.
Pamela, who is a cancer survivor, added that she consumed quinoa while undergoing chemotherapy, following her doctor’s recommendation.
“The nutrition in quinoa helps to build antibodies, [which is needed to fight cancer],” she said. (kes)
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