There are plenty of beauty benefits of quinoa from clearing up acne to promoting wrinkle-free skin! Check them out below!
Quinoa: A Superfood for Natural Beauty
Quinoa (pronounced keenwah) is a gluten-free super food that has taken the natural health community by a storm. It’s a substitute for rice and other grains so it is commonly mistaken for a grain but it is actually a seed! It is native to Central and South America and has traditionally been used to make soups, porridge, cakes and even beer.
What makes quinoa special is that its gluten-free plus rich in lots of antioxidants and nutrients including protein, B-vitamins, calcium, magnesium, iron, fiber and others.
We shall see the amazing beauty benefits of quinoa and how to use quinoa for beauty below so read on!
8 Beauty Benefits of Quinoa for Skin, Hair and More
Here are some of the beauty benefits of quinoa:
1. Anti-Aging
Quinoa is bursting with powerful antioxidants such as quercetin and polyphenols that combat oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is caused by free radicals that steal oxygen from the body’s cells including skin cells. This leads to fine lines, wrinkles and dull looking skin. So incorporate quinoa into your diet to fight off these free radicals from within and promote wrinkle-free skin!
2. Wound Healing Properties
Yes, eating quinoa helps speed up healing of wounds and scars! That’s because it contains lysine which aids in speedy healing of damaged tissue including scar tissue. It also contains a B-vitamin called riboflavin which provides elasticity to skin, making it more resilient and softer too.
3. Clears Up Acne
Rich in antioxidants, quinoa helps clear up acne. Not to mention, it also has a lot of dietary fiber that help in proper elimination of wastes through the colon. If these wastes are not properly or quickly eliminated, they build up and escape through the skin in form of pimples and acne. Add quinoa into your diet to see reduced breakouts!
4. Reduces Dark Spots & Discolorations
One of the surprising beauty benefits of quinoa is that it helps even out your skin by removing dark spots. The vitamins in quinoa reduce clumping up of melanin granules that causes dark spots, black marks and other discolorations.
5. Supports Weight Loss
Did you know that one cup of cooked quinoa has 222 calories which is almost the same as brown rice which has 218 calories per cup. But what makes quinoa even better is that it contains more dietary fiber and protein than brown rice, which makes it more filling! It can keep you fuller longer, which prevents bingeing.
6. Makes Skin Supple
Quinoa contains lysine, an essential amino acid that is only obtained through diet. It is used in the production of elastin and collagen, which build connective tissue as well as make skin taut, supple and smooth!
7. Prevents Split Ends
Hydrolyzed protein extract from quinoa helps prevents and even repair split ends by penetrating through the hair cortex, strengthening and nourishing it. Look for hair products with hydrolyzed quinoa protein like this shampoo and conditioner from Iden to help fortify hair strands and prevent split ends!
8. Exfoliator
You can use cooked quinoa to give yourself a gentle cleansing quinoa scrub to exfoliate dead cells! The soft granules of cooked quinoa gently scrape off flaky skin without being too harsh and creating micro cuts on the skin’s surface like harsh scrubs containing large and sharp granules such as white sugar. So if you have sensitive skin, try using cooked quinoa as a quick exfoliating scrub!
How to Use Quinoa for Natural Beauty
1. Quinoa Breakfast Porridge Recipe:
Add ½ cup quinoa, 1 ½ cups of water and 2 chopped apples in a pot and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce to a simmer for 20 minutes. The apples should be soft and the quinoa plumped with water. Stir in 2 tsp of cinnamon powder and enough honey to taste. Transfer the mixture into a bowl and enjoy!
2. Quinoa Face & Body Exfoliator:
Simply combine ½ cup of cooked quinoa with 1 tsp honey and ¼ cup of Greek yogurt. You can store this in a sealable jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Take a suitable amount to the shower with you and rub it onto wet skin for a couple of minutes. Rinse off and lather up with soap as usual.
3. Quinoa Cucumber Salad
In a large bowl, add 1 diced cucumber, ½ cup diced red onion, ½ cup crumbled feta cheese, 1/3 cup chopped basil leaves and 2 cups cooked quinoa (don’t use freshly cooked hot quinoa – keep it in the refrigerator to bring it to room temperature beforehand). Mix the ingredients together then add the lemon vinaigrette which is ¼ cup olive oil, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, ½ tsp Italian seasoning, salt & black pepper. Toss well to combine. Serve immediately! Recipe from GimmeSomeOven.com
I hope you enjoyed reading the above beauty benefits of quinoa! Do you have any easy quinoa recipes? Share below!
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