Comments on: Can you eat Quinoa raw?

By: Nic

Nic — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 01:45:57 +0000

I just ate some quinoa flakes raw… they tasted raw like they want to be cooked, feel heavy & dry in my belly. I’m not a ‘raw foodie’ (omnivorous & love a steak) but raw makes sense to me, beans and peas taste fantastic more alive & not surprising really, guess I’d better check toxic raw foods. Was hoping to find the definitive answer on what happens inside me when I eat quinoa… guess I’m finding out.. doesn’t feel so good. Guess I should’ve soaked them like suggested above.
Oh & I think pink = fermentation, I heard white rice (though brown is so tasty & feels good IMO) supports bacteria populations very well/quickly.

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:43:54 +0000

Raw = Living = Balance Alkalinity & Acidity
Cooked = Dead = Devitalized = Most likely Super Acidic

By: KuriG

KuriG — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 04:21:07 +0000

Yes, you “can” eat quinoa raw – and I prefer it that way. (Same for oats – I’ll never eat cooked oatmeal again…!!)

I’m not any kind of “professional,” just a student…
Many people (myself included until recently) think of quinoa as a grain – possibly because many of us consume in our lives in place of a grain – but, in fact, it is a seed. Like many seed (hemp, flax, etc) it has a protective shell that must be breached in order for us to gain nutritional its benefit. Typically, our digestive process is not sufficient to do this – that said, I’m not certain in the case of quinoa specifically. Cooking can, of course breach this shell so, cooking would likely be better than mere soaking. However, the benefits of sprouting are off the charts and would, at my guess’timation, far surpass those of cooking.

The study Sergio mentions in the first post is interesting and I’d love to see it. My understanding at this point is that the increase of vitamin content in sprouts during the sprouting period is tremendous. Sprouting also releases various enzymes that help our digestive process to assimilate proteins, carbohydrates and fat – I’m wondering whether this study looked at “sprouted” or simply at “raw.”

I’m no raw fanatic, but I’m a raw quinoa fan!!

By: Troy

Troy — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 04:17:56 +0000

I just bought my first bag of quinoa at Costco the otherday and tonight while I was cooking a pizza I decided to sprinkly some quinoa on top. I am just now eating the pizza with the slightly toasted quinoa on top. It’s not bad, but I wish I would have found this site earlier as I would have soaked the quinoa first. It doesn’t seem to be settling so well in my stomach… hmmm, maybe it’s sprouting.

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 19:58:43 +0000

I stayed at the Optimum Health Institute in Lemon Grove, CA in 1997 and I had a sprouted Quinoa salad which was delicious, and included cucumber, tomato, avocado and parsely, I believe. The Institute practices Natural Hygiene, which is a stricter form of raw vegan. My thoughts are that sprouted would be better than cooked. Search the web, and you will see the many benefits of sprouting grain, not only for increased protein content, but also for better digestion. Cooked quinoa would be more difficult to digest than a sprouted grain.

By: Sarah-Jane

Sarah-Jane — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 18:27:35 +0000

It’s not only about the nutrients, it’s about if there is any life force energy left in it. Called ‘Prana’ in Indian traditions. If you boil or heat something until it’s mush, it’s dead, there is no prana left in it. Think about eating a piece of raw cabbage, you can still feel its life energy. Then think of eating a piece of cabbage boiled until a soggy mush… it’s totally dead! As I understand it raw and sprouting food is alive and you take on that energy. So I guess soaked quinoa will have kicked in the life force to start it growing and sprouted would contain the most. And some light steaming after soaking would be better than boiling excessively.
It’s food for thought anyway…!

By: mr.mcCrinkleburg

mr.mcCrinkleburg — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 22:32:57 +0000

I dont see a reason to get defensive on on raw versus cooked… If the man likes some foods cooked, let him eat them cooked. I see the thought process in the college story. Of course there is also the difference between ‘natural’ cooking and new technology such as microwaves. food for thought.

By: Ann

Ann — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:58:18 +0000

I recently bought a tub of “Woodpecker” Quinoia. It was in the produce aisle at a local supermarket, with all the dried nuts, coconut chips, granola, etc. It says on the back of the tub, “to sit back, dig in and enjoy”. Does this mean I don’t have to cook it? My husband and I are baffled by this and I can’t find a website for the manufacturer. I bought it because it was fairly inexpensive for quinoia. Does anyone know of this brand or has anyone eaten it? Do we have to cook it, or is it a snack that can be eaten right out of the container? Would love to hear your comments.

By: alicia

alicia — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 02:38:23 +0000

Oh and I like my quinoa cooked but will try sprouting and rinsing this week!

By: alicia

alicia — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 02:37:46 +0000

So I like the idea of raw food diet but I do believe that some human foods are healthier cooked, especially vegetables, legumes etc. Also what I dont understand in the raw food diet is why raw food is anymore pure or primitive than blended or frozen or otherwise mechanically processed foods? Is it natural to express oil from an olive? Is it “natural” to blend food? Afterall, humans were not born with electrical and mechanical technology?!?!! So what is the ideal diet? Anything we can easily sink our teeth into, peel, pick, or kill? Hmmmmm. Perhaps we really are half alien!!!