雖然看起來像一種谷物，但藜麥實(shí)際上是種子，而且與菠菜和莧菜同科。藜麥與谷物有著相似的營養(yǎng)，經(jīng)常可以替代谷物作為主食。但藜麥實(shí)際上比大多數(shù)谷物都更健康。

藜麥富含纖維、B族維生素以及許多礦物質(zhì)，并含有豐富的蛋白質(zhì)。營養(yǎng)學(xué)家將其稱為“超級谷物”，是大米和小麥產(chǎn)品的健康替代品。藜麥不含麩質(zhì)和膽固醇！

因?yàn)檗见湶粌H能夠?yàn)槭秤谜咛峁┓浅ＸS富的營養(yǎng)，而且可以讓種植者得到實(shí)惠，聯(lián)合國大會將2013年設(shè)為“國際藜麥年”。美國國家航空航天局也正在考慮將其用于長途太空旅行。太空藜麥！

這種神奇的食物來自哪里？

藜麥最早的種植者是5,000多年前的南美人。它一直是安第斯山脈高山居民的重要主食。在當(dāng)?shù)卣Z言中，藜麥的意思就是“百谷之母”。在印加帝國時(shí)期，印加皇帝會親自用金鏟播種當(dāng)季的第一粒藜麥種子！藜麥?zhǔn)且环N神圣的食物，極受重視。

可惜的是，若干世紀(jì)以來藜麥幾乎被人所遺忘。20世紀(jì)50年代，當(dāng)世界各國在尋找其他食物來養(yǎng)活不斷增加的世界人口時(shí)，植物學(xué)家在玻利維亞的高山地區(qū)“重新發(fā)現(xiàn)”了藜麥，但真正看到其潛力的人卻不多。美國最初在1981年開始種植藜麥，從此藜麥便很快作為一種健康的食物在世界各地流行開來。西藏農(nóng)學(xué)家貢布扎西于1988年成功種植了中國最初的藜麥。西藏自治區(qū)的海拔、氣候和土壤非常適合這種來自南美安第斯山脈的植物。

藜麥如何使藏民得到實(shí)惠？

幾個世紀(jì)以來，藏民幾乎沒有大麥的替代品，因?yàn)檫@是少數(shù)能夠在世界屋脊的高海拔和惡劣氣候下生長的植物之一。但是藜麥就喜歡青藏高原這種寒冷、干燥和堿性的土壤環(huán)境。藏民現(xiàn)在有了另一種幾乎可以在任何地方種植的作物。

西藏的佛教信徒崇敬一切生命，所以藏民從不使用農(nóng)藥。而藜麥本身的種皮上就有一種天然的皂苷能抵抗鳥類和昆蟲，所以藜麥不需要任何化學(xué)物質(zhì)。只需使用如綿羊或牦牛糞便等天然肥料，藜麥就可以長得很好，這就減少了農(nóng)民的投資，也可以讓他們的土地免受污染。

農(nóng)民種植藜麥可以獲得極大的經(jīng)濟(jì)效益。盡管藜麥每年的收成會有差別，但農(nóng)民種植藜麥獲得的收入至少會是大麥或其他谷物的兩倍。所以，每當(dāng)您吃下一碗藜麥時(shí)，您不但讓自己的身體得到營養(yǎng)，而且也在幫助那些勤勞栽種這種神奇食物的藏民！

WHAT IS QUINOA?

Although quinoa looks like a grain, it is actually a variety of seed, related to both spinach and amaranth. Quinoa shares nutritional similarities to grain and often replaces grain as a staple food. However, quinoa is actually a healthier option than most grains.

Quinoa is rich in fiber, B vitamins, many minerals, and contains abundant protein. It is considered a “superfood” by nutritionists, an extremely healthy alternative to rice and wheat products. Quinoa is gluten-free and cholesterol free!

The United Nations General Assembly pronounced 2013 as “The International Year of Quinoa” due to the nutritional value of quinoa to those who eat it, and the benefits to farmers who grow it. NASA is considering it for long distance space travel. Quinoa in outer space!

WHERE DOES THIS AMAZING FOOD COME FROM?

Quinoa was first grown by the peoples of South America over 5,000 years ago.[51] It has always been an important staple for the high mountain people of the Andes Mountains., The word quinoa means “Mother of All Grains” in the native language. During the Inca Empire, the Inca emperor himself would sow the first quinoa seeds of the season using a golden shovel! Quinoa was a sacred food and highly valued.

Sadly, quinoa was nearly forgotten for centuries. In the 1950s, the world was looking for other food sources to feed the world’s growing population, and quinoa was “rediscovered” by botanists in the high mountains of Bolivia, but few saw its potential. It was first planted in the US in 1981, and soon began to gain popularity as a health food around the world. Gongbu Tashi, a Tibetan agronomist, successfully grew the first quinoa in China in 1988. Tibet Autonomous Region’s altitude, climate, and soil were a perfect match for this plant from the Andes Mountains of South America.

HOW DOES QUINOA HELP TIBETAN FARMERS?

For centuries, Tibetan farmers have had few alternatives to barley—one of the few plants that grow in the high altitude and hostile climates of this corner of China. But quinoa loves the cold, the dry, and the alkaline soil of the Tibetan Plateau. Tibetan farmers now have another crop that can grow nearly anywhere.

Tibetan Buddhists revere all living things, so Tibetan farmers never use pesticides. Quinoa seeds are covered with a natural substance, saponins, that resists both birds and insects, so quinoa requires no chemicals. Quinoa grows well with natural fertilizers such as sheep or yak dung, reducing farmers’ investments and keeping their land free from pollutants.

Farmers profit financially from growing quinoa. Although harvests vary from year to year, farmers normally receive at least twice as much income from a field of quinoa than barley or any other grain. So when you eat a bowl of quinoa, you are benefiting yourself and the hard-working Tibetan farmer who grew this amazing plant!