Nutritional and Functional New Perspectives and Potential Health Benefits of Quinoa and Chia Seeds
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Date
2023-07
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Abstract
Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) and chia (Salvia hispanica) are essential traditional
crops with excellent nutritional properties. Quinoa is known for its high and good quality protein
content and nine essential amino acids vital for an individual’s development and growth, whereas
chia seeds contain high dietary fiber content, calories, lipids, minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron,
phosphorus, and zinc), and vitamins (A and B complex). Chia seeds are also known for their presence
of a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids. Both quinoa and chia seeds are gluten-free and provide
medicinal properties due to bioactive compounds, which help combat various chronic diseases such
as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic diseases such as cancer. Quinoa seeds
possess phenolic compounds, particularly kaempferol, which can help prevent cancer. Many food
products can be developed by fortifying quinoa and chia seeds in different concentrations to enhance
their nutritional profile, such as extruded snacks, meat products, etc. Furthermore, it highlights
the value-added products that can be developed by including quinoa and chia seeds, alone and in
combination. This review focused on the recent development in quinoa and chia seeds nutritional,
bioactive properties, and processing for potential human health and therapeutic applications.