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Quinoa

Rachel--24

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Rachel--24 Collaborator
Rachel--24
Posted

I really dont care for quinoa (tried it a long time ago pre-gluten-free) but thought I'd give it another chance. I ate it for breakfast last Thursday and have been REALLY messed up ever since. I have every symptom of a glutening but I know it wasnt contaminated. My doctor told me to avoid both quinoa and amaranth because even though they are gluten-free they are too similar structurally to gluten and therefore some people react....same with soy protein isolate (whatever that is). I didnt really believe him since 9 out of 10 websites say they are safe...sooo I went ahead and ate quinoa. Now I am still sick. :(

I asked my doctor about this and he said this is why he told me not to eat it....because some people DO react to it. He said while some of his patients do fine with it...others have gluten reactions from it. I'm confused about this. I knew even the purest of oats could cause trouble for some but quinoa??? :huh:

Did anyone else have a gluten reaction from quinoa?

P.S. I'm not at all sad about giving up quinoa...cuz its gross....but just wanna know if it could cause that reaction.

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Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

dunno, I think it's gross too.

Rachel--24 Collaborator
Rachel--24
Posted
  • Author
dunno, I think it's gross too.

LOL...I'm thinking noones gonna answer cuz probably everyone here feels the same. I'm the only one dumb enough to try it twice. :lol::lol:

angel-jd1 Community Regular
angel-jd1
Posted

I put it in meatloaf ,meatballs, cookies, and things sometimes. I have also used it ontop of apple crisp. I have also eaten it as a hot cereal with a little butter and sugar. I don't think it is bad and it hasn't made me sick at all. By the way, I used the flakes.

-Jessica :rolleyes:

I really dont care for quinoa (tried it a long time ago pre-gluten-free) but thought I'd give it another chance. I ate it for breakfast last Thursday and have been REALLY messed up ever since. I have every symptom of a glutening but I know it wasnt contaminated. My doctor told me to avoid both quinoa and amaranth because even though they are gluten-free they are too similar structurally to gluten and therefore some people react....same with soy protein isolate (whatever that is). I didnt really believe him since 9 out of 10 websites say they are safe...sooo I went ahead and ate quinoa. Now I am still sick. :(

I asked my doctor about this and he said this is why he told me not to eat it....because some people DO react to it. He said while some of his patients do fine with it...others have gluten reactions from it. I'm confused about this. I knew even the purest of oats could cause trouble for some but quinoa??? :huh:

Did anyone else have a gluten reaction from quinoa?

P.S. I'm not at all sad about giving up quinoa...cuz its gross....but just wanna know if it could cause that reaction.

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

I eat it from time to time. It is a nice change of pace from all the rice and potatoes. I don't think it is gross at all. And it is gluten free and natural. However, I suppose you could be one of the people who react to it.

ianm Apprentice
ianm
Posted

I never had any reaction from quinoa but it is gross so I don't eat it. I read on a quinoa package that the plant produces a soap like substance as a natural insect repellent and can have a bitter taste.

Mango04 Enthusiast
Mango04
Posted

Maybe I'm totally weird - b/c I think it's good! Did you rinse it really well before you cooked it? If not, it has this soapy coating that can make you really sick. It's some sort of natural pesticide that you have to entirely clean off before you cook it...and it tastes really bad if you don't get rid of it. A lot of the time when you buy quinoa that soapy stuff is already rinsed off though...so maybe that wasn't the problem. Hope you feel better.

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frenchiemama Collaborator
frenchiemama
Posted

I thought that the quinoa flakes were completely gross, but I like whole quinoa. Especially since it cooks so much faster than rice. Never gotten sick from it though.

hez Enthusiast
hez
Posted

I have never gotten sick from Quinoa. However, as a hot cereal and pasta I think it is gross. I do like quinoa as a substitute for couscous.

Feel better soon!

Hez

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

You do have to make sure it is thoroughly rinsed to remove any saponin (the soaplike coating) before preparing it. This may have been done before you get it, but I always put it in a strainer and run plenty of cold water through it to ensure that it is clean. When the water runs clear the saponin has been eliminated.

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

I eat it with no problems.

Merika Contributor
Merika
Posted

I like it but it makes me feel sort of bad, so I don't eat it anymore. :( When I did allergy tests one year post-gluten-free, I tested positive to every grain out there (except for wheat, rye, barley, oats, LOL - because I'd avoided them I suspect). I think if your insides are really messed up, any grain is hard to digest. In time, you may be ok eating them (like 3 years.....).

Merika

jenvan Collaborator
jenvan
Posted

I eat with no issues...ate it last night-yum! :) I always cook it in a broth or seasonings like saffron.

marciab Enthusiast
marciab
Posted

I don't have any problems with quinoa, but brown rice tears up me up some times. marcia

Rachel--24 Collaborator
Rachel--24
Posted
  • Author
Maybe I'm totally weird - b/c I think it's good!

Yeah...you're TOTALLY weird! :lol::lol: j/k

apparantly there are a few of you weirdos on this thread. ;)

I'm not a picky eater and I even like the dry amaranth snaps but I just dont go for quinoa at all.

Did you rinse it really well before you cooked it? If not, it has this soapy coating that can make you really sick. It's some sort of natural pesticide that you have to entirely clean off before you cook it...and it tastes really bad if you don't get rid of it. A lot of the time when you buy quinoa that soapy stuff is already rinsed off though...so maybe that wasn't the problem. Hope you feel better.

I did not know it came with a soapy chemical on it. :huh:

Great....if I was gonna get sick I'd rather it have been pizza...not some soapy quinoa. Gross.

How do I know if the chemical was washed off or not? It was hot cereal (Ancient Harvest) and it was flakes not those little round things. I don't think I could have washed off the flakes because they were real tiny...they probably would have disintegrated or something. :unsure:

I wonder if residues could have gotten me sick since I am extremely sensitive to any chemicals? I think even a natural pesticide would definately make me sick.

jenvan Collaborator
jenvan
Posted

I was curious on the "soap" so looked it up here. It said:

Open Original Shared Link

Preparation

Quinoa's survival through the millennia may be attributed to the resinous, bitter coating that protects its seeds from birds and insects--and also shields them from the intense high-altitude sunlight. This coating, called saponin, is soapy and must be removed in a strong alkaline solution to make the grain palatable. Most quinoa sold in this country has already been cleansed of its saponin. But quinoa should be rinsed thoroughly before cooking to remove any powdery residue of saponin. Place the grain in a fine strainer and hold it under cold running water until the water runs clear; drain well.

Sterndogg Apprentice
Sterndogg
Posted

I like it as a substitute too for couscous and use chicken broth or beef stock instead of water for flavoring if having as a side dish with dinner.

Rachel--24 Collaborator
Rachel--24
Posted
  • Author
Quinoa's survival through the millennia may be attributed to the resinous, bitter coating that protects its seeds from birds and insects--and also shields them from the intense high-altitude sunlight. This coating, called saponin, is soapy and must be removed in a strong alkaline solution to make the grain palatable. Most quinoa sold in this country has already been cleansed of its saponin. But quinoa should be rinsed thoroughly before cooking to remove any powdery residue of saponin. Place the grain in a fine strainer and hold it under cold running water until the water runs clear; drain well.

Thanks Jen,

Maybe I should have washed the flakes...wonder if that would have helped. Well....now I know and I wont be eating them again....thats for sure. I bet it was residue that got me sick. I looked at the box and it says nothing about the saponin. I think if I was healthy it wouldnt have bothered me but my immune system is definately under some serious stress so it doesnt take a whole lot to make things worse.

Mango04 Enthusiast
Mango04
Posted
Yeah...you're TOTALLY weird! :lol::lol: j/k

apparantly there are a few of you weirdos on this thread. ;)

hahahahahahaha :lol:

The only thing I don't like about quinoa is it's really hard to wash. Maybe I just don't have the right kind of strainer. Hmmm. Go figure we have to worry about strange soapy stuff being in the foods that are supposedly safe and naturally gluten-free. <_<

Rachel--24 Collaborator
Rachel--24
Posted
  • Author
Go figure we have to worry about strange soapy stuff being in the foods that are supposedly safe and naturally gluten-free. <_<

Yeah...I never woulda thought there was insect repellent on my cereal! What the... :blink:

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted
:D:D I bought a box of quinoa several months ago. I didn't know of a good way to make it, so I just kind of forgot about it. After hearing what everyone is saying, I don't think I'll be trying it anytime soon!
psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

Everbody needs to keep this in perspective. Saponin is a natural part of the plant, just like the shell is a natural part of a walnut, or the stone is a natural part of an apricot. It is not a soap or chemical added by man. BTW, apricot stones are poisonous due to large quantities of naturally occuring cyanide, but that doesn't mean you should not eat the flesh.

If the quinoa has been processed into flakes or some other form besides whole grain, then the saponin would have been removed. The caution only applies to whole quinoa, where some residue may remain.

Mango04 Enthusiast
Mango04
Posted
Everbody needs to keep this in perspective. Saponin is a natural part of the plant, just like the shell is a natural part of a walnut, or the stone is a natural part of an apricot. It is not a soap or chemical added by man. BTW, apricot stones are poisonous due to large quantities of naturally occuring cyanide, but that doesn't mean you should not eat the flesh.

If the quinoa has been processed into flakes or some other form besides whole grain, then the saponin would have been removed. The caution only applies to whole quinoa, where some residue may remain.

Yeah definitely. It's just kind of a pain to wash when you buy the whole qunioa....but I still think it's really good. Actually thinking of making some tonight. :)

Rachel--24 Collaborator
Rachel--24
Posted
  • Author
Everbody needs to keep this in perspective. Saponin is a natural part of the plant, just like the shell is a natural part of a walnut, or the stone is a natural part of an apricot. It is not a soap or chemical added by man. BTW, apricot stones are poisonous due to large quantities of naturally occuring cyanide, but that doesn't mean you should not eat the flesh.

Yeah...I understood about it being a natural occuring chemical and not synthetic. I was just being silly about not wanting soapy insect repellent on my cereal. :lol:

Since I ate flakes I'm sure the saponin was washed out but can it really be 100% removed? All I know is I got really sick so its definately not worth it to me to eat it again...I mean, it's not like its chocolate or anything super yummy like that. ;)

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

Rachel, I'm cool with what you said. I just didn't want anybody to think there was anything about whole quinoa what was not natural or organic.

Your body may have a problem with quinoa even if the saponin is completely removed.

Peace. :)

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