Is Quinoa Paleo Friendly?

Ever wonder if quinoa is paleo-friendly? In this article, I discuss the nutritional benefits of quinoa, as well as the pros and cons of including it in your diet (especially if you’re following the paleo framework).


Is Quinoa Paleo Friendly?
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Is Quinoa Paleo?

Hailed as a superfood, quinoa is gluten-free, high in protein and nutrient-dense. All valid reasons as to why it has become a popular alternative to traditional grains. In fact, the United Nations declared 2013 the International Year of Quinoa, “to raise awareness of the nutritional, economic, environmental and cultural value of a food that has been traditionally cultivated for thousands of years.” But is quinoa all it’s cracked up to be? Let’s take a closer look to find some answers.

What Is Quinoa?

Is quinoa paleo?
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Quinoa is a flowering plant native to the Andes in South America. The crop is grown primarily for its small bead-like seeds that are commercially available in white, red and black. When cooked, the tiny round seeds resemble couscous. The seed is also processed into flakes and flour.

You’ve probably heard quinoa described as a ‘pseudograin’ (or ‘pseudocereal’). This term is given to plants that are used in the same way as grains (like wheat, rice and oats) but are from a different botanical family. Amaranth, buckwheat, chia, and quinoa are all pseudograins. Quinoa is a species of goosefoot (Chenopodium) and its closest relatives are beets, spinach and chard.

Is It Paleo If It’s Not A Grain?

On a paleo diet, grains are avoided because they contain gluten and anti-nutrients (such as phytic acid and lectins) which irritate the digestive system; they are also high in carbohydrates and a poor source of nutrients compared to other food like vegetables and animal fats and protein; and finally, they are often heavily processed.

Like a seed, quinoa is gluten-free, a complete protein (contains all essential amino acids) and nutrient-dense. However, it does contain some of the same properties as grains which are potentially harmful, including anti-nutrients and high carbohydrate content (53 on the Glycemic Index). Even though the seed is gluten-free, many people find quinoa hard to process and digest. This is because of the presence of anti-nutrients such as lectins, saponins, protease inhibitors, and phytic acid.

Quinoa Antinutrients

Saponins, Lectins & Protease Inhibitors

Plants produce saponins, lectins, and protease inhibitors as a defence mechanism – basically to stop their seeds from being eaten and to protect against mould and fungus. When ingested, these chemical compounds irritate the digestive tract causing discomfort, and the predator learns not to eat it again. These compounds are present in varying levels in pseudograins.

Quinoa contains saponins,  another compound designed to protect the seed. The highest concentration of saponins is found in the outer casing of the seed, which is waxy and bitter tasting. Interestingly, when hulled and milled into flour the saponin content is halved, according to this study. The total saponin content of whole quinoa seed is still much lower than that found in soybean or chickpeas (like 3-5 times lower).

Lectins are proteins present in many foods, and only certain types are toxic – like gluten. However, those found in pseudograins also cause negative reactions in many people.

Protease inhibitors prevent the digestive enzymes from breaking down the seed – so the seed can pass through the digestive tract and emerge whole, able to germinate. Over-consumption of foods containing protease inhibitors can damage the pancreas. Once again, according to this study into the nutrient and antinutrient content of quinoa seed, the level of these inhibitors diminishes significantly with dehulling and milling of the quinoa seed into flour. Quinoa pancakes anyone?

Phytic Acid 

Phytic acid is found in grains, nuts, seeds and beans. Phytic acid binds minerals and prevents us from absorbing them. A high phytate diet can result in mineral deficiencies which cause diseases such as osteoporosis and rickets. However, phytic acid can be reduced by sprouting or soaking before cooking.

How to prepare quinoa
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These anti-nutrients can all contribute to a leaky gut, cause inflammation, weaken the immune system, and trigger autoimmune disease. To reduce the impact of these anti-nutrients, it is essential to prepare quinoa by soaking, ‘polishing’ and rinsing the seeds before cooking (more on this below).

For a detailed rundown of the anti-nutrients found in pseudograins, see:
Weston A Price: ‘Preparing Grains, Nuts, Seeds and Beans for Maximum Nutrition’
‘Less bad but not good: pseudograins and non-gluten grains’

So, Is Quinoa Good Or Bad?

Yes and no… Quinoa is not strictly paleo but many people, including me, eat it occasionally for variety. However, I would avoid it if I had any gut problems, an autoimmune condition, or I was trying to reduce my carb intake for weight loss or to correct a metabolic disorder. Why not try swapping it for nutrient-dense sides like cauliflower ‘couscous’, sweet potato or squash instead?

How To Prepare Quinoa

Quinoa salad with sardines
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Quinoa is cooked much like rice, however, it should be prepared carefully to remove some of the anti-nutrients to minimise the impact on your gut.

1. Soak 1 cup quinoa in salted water for 6-8 hours (this reduces the phytic acid)
2. Place the quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer and rub the seeds together with your fingers while rinsing under cold running water (this ‘polishing’ removes the coating of saponins)
3. In a pot, combine the quinoa with 1.5 cups of water with a pinch of salt (or stock)
4. Bring to the boil and then reduce to low temperature and simmer (lid on) for 10-15 minutes until the water has been absorbed and the seeds become almost translucent
5. Rest for 5 minutes and fluff with a fork before serving.

Check Out My Gluten-Free Quinoa Recipes


Curious About More Foods On The Paleo Diet?

You might also be interested to read my posts on the paleo diet and buckwheatgreen peas, white rice, amaranth, oatmeal, and miso.


What are your thoughts on quinoa? Do you include it in your diet? Share your comments below.

References & further reading

  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudocereal
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinoa
  • Chauhan G.S., Eskin N.A.M., Tkachuk R., Nutrients and Antinutrients in Quinoa, Cereal Chemisty, 1991 August; 69(1); 85-88
  • Khokhar S, Apenten R.K., Antinutritional Factors In Food Legumes and Effects of Processing, The Role of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Human Nutrition, Vol. IV
  • Ruales J, Nair B.M., Saponins, phytic acid, tannins and protease inhibitors in quinoa (Chenopodium quinia, Wild) Seeds, Food Chemisty, Volume 48, Issue 2, 1993, Pages 137–143
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Irena Macri
By Irena Macri

About the author: Hi, I’m Irena Macri. I share delicious recipes that I have cooked and loved. I am a published cookbook author, have been food blogging for over 10 years and have a Diploma in Nutrition. You will find many healthy recipes as well as my favourite comfort food. More about me here | Subscribe to my newsletter and freebies

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14 Comments
  1. Wonderful quinoa. I soak my quinoa, and all grains, in whey water to reduce the phytates. I realize grains are not paleo…. I do for the most part eat paleo, but sometimes I need grains, desperately, and then I can move on.

    1. I have quinoa a couple of times a month, so for me it’s a ‘consume on occasion’ if well tolerated.

      1. Hey Alice,

        Thanks for notifying us. The ads are automated and are served through Google and another ad platform. The way they work is that different ads show to different people depending on various factors (location, gender if they know it, search and browsing history etc). I don’t often know what ads are showing up to different people until they let me know, I can only see what’s showing up to me. Once we know that a particular brand shows up, we can block that going forward. So thanks for letting us know.

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  2. Please check a research paper that came out about 3 years ago (I can search for you if you’re interested in updating the article). They found that 3 out of 15 varieties of quinoa were inducing gluten-related symptoms to celiac people. It also happened that these 3 problematic varieties were all of the red color kind. So, not all quinoas are equal. I personally avoid quinoa, and buckwheat. I don’t respond well to them.

    1. Yes, I would love more info on this. Always looking for new research and updates on these things.

  3. I am a tiny bit confused. If I both sprout and then cook pseudograins in a pressure cooker-have I managed to destroy all the antinutrients? I have such a fast metabolism I really need extra carbs.

    1. I think you’ll be reducing a decent amount. Both my partner and I are quite active and slim, so we also need extra carbs, and I enjoy a bit of quinoa and even white rice in moderation. I would say white rice is even safer, especially if you use it as a carrier for healthier foods like fish and veggies.

  4. Thanks for this explanation – it’s clear and thorough. I am just beginning to try a diet to deal with gut / immune issues and live somewhere where cauliflower and many of the promoted alternative foods cost a bomb because they’re imported, so glad to get good info that will help me decide what to spend my money on

    1. It’s really about learning what you can tolerate. There are certainly many benefits for going completely grain-free, especially if you have gut/immune issues, but after initial reset, it is so handy to be able to have a few more options on hand.

  5. I never have digestive problems with grain. I am blessed/cursed with a digestive system like cast iron. However, I do feel much better not eating starches. However, there are times when it seems that a big plate of veggies is just not enough and a carb would help me feel more grounded. This seems truer as we get into the cooler weather in the NE. Wheats do get my hypoglycemia going so have pretty much cut them all out–that is my waterloo with food. It is an issue that never is addressed with Paleo discussions and should be.

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