Glycemic Index Profiling of Raw and Germinated Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd)

Quinoa has proteins of high biological value, carbohydrates of low glycemic index and phytosteroids
with  - 3 and 6 fatty acids that provide health benefits. The main advantage of quinoa is that along
with being a protein supplement in the flour industry, it meets the increasing international demand for
gluten-free products in cakes, pastries, pasta and baked goods. Studies on glycemic index (GI)
profiling of newly released quinoa varieties are lacking and so the present study was taken up to
assess its GI. Cooked raw and germinated quinoa were given to 10 subjects, their blood glucose
levels were determined every 15 min up to 60 min and again at 90 and 120 min respectively. The
blood glucose levels after consumption of raw quinoa ranged from 78.30 to 120.20 mg/dl with an
average fasting level of 96.51 mg/dl and for germinated quinoa ranged from 68.4 to 114.0 mg/dl with
an average fasting level of 84.2 mg/dl. The glycemic index of raw quinoa of 70 g having 50 g of
carbohydrates ranged from 51.28 to 78.25 with an average of 63.37 and the glycemic load was from
25.64 to 39.12 with an average of 31.68. The glycemic index of germinated quinoa of 75 g having 50
g of carbohydrates ranged from 51.2 to 64.7 with an average of 59.0 and the glycemic load was from
25.6 to 29.7 with an average of 29.54. Hence, this quinoa variety can be categorized as a medium
glycemic index and high glycemic load food. These diets can reduce insulin resistance and the risk of
life style diseases like CVD, diabetes and certain cancers.