'Superfood' Quinoa may be Safe for People with Celiac Disease

For those suffering from celiac disease, an immune disease in which the body cannot process protein gluten, many foods are simply off-limits-and that includes most, if not all, grains. However, according to a recent study, Quinoa, a tasty grain native to South America that's been described as a "superfood" by some, may be safe enough to consume for those suffering from the health issue.

For the study, researchers recruited 19 people diagnosed with celiac disease. The participants were all given 50 grams of quinoa, which is a little less than two ounces of the product, over a six week period. They were also allowed to cook quinoa based on their tastes, even though the participants followed a gluten-free diet.

"We evaluated diet, serology, and gastrointestinal parameters. Furthermore, we carried out detail histological assessment of 10 patients before and after eating quinoa," the authors said, via a press release.

For the experiment, researchers collected data on the patients' health by conducting blood, kidney and liver tests. They also found that each individual's immune systems was able to tolerate the grain.

"It's important to note that further studies are needed to determine the long-term effects of quinoa consumptions in people with celiac disease," study author Dr. Victor Zevallos, of the gastroenterology department at King's College London in England, said via WebMD. "The clinical data [in this study] suggests that daily consumption of quinoa (50 grams) can be safely tolerated by celiac patients."

However, at the end of the study, researchers stress that just because quinoa can be consumed by those suffering from the health issue, it should still be carefully washed in order to remove any toxic coating that may remain on the grains.

More information regarding the study can be found via the American Journal of Gastroenterology.