I don’t normally post twice in a day, but this is important. Very important. It affects my health, and it potentially can affect the health of many, many others as the popularity of quinoa has grown exponentially since the advent of Pinterest and paleo-esque diets.
I’m having a pretty moderate reaction to my breakfast right now. I had quinoa, which was leftover from a batch I had on Wednesday night, which was followed by a MASSIVE 8-hour-long stomachcrampfest and near-death pain (okay not near-death but it freaking hurt). I chalked it up to the fact that I had bananas (see my note at the bottom) that day, and figured I’d just quit the naners for a while.
I’m now making the connection as I’m having some of the same symptoms as the other day, and haven’t had a banana since (YES I can have bananas again!).
So … you’d think if there was a toxic substance in a food that can easily be removed by washing properly, there might be a WARNING label somewhere on the package.
Nope. Not with quinoa.
Quinoa has a naturally occurring toxic substance on it that can easily be removed by washing it properly.
If you do not wash quinoa properly, you can ingest the naturally occurring saponin, which protects the plant from insect and fungal attacks. Saponin is soapy, bitter, and toxic, and is actually used to make detergents. So you really should not eat it.
From what I’ve read all over the internets in my desperate attempt to find some relief is that if you have a reaction from quinoa like this, that if you ingest the saponin, your body will start to recognize the grain itself as being dangerous, and regardless of how much you wash it, you will continue to have reactions that worsen each time you eat it.
So bye, bye, quinoa. You are one of my favorite gluten-free grains. I guess I can add this to my already mile-long list of things I can’t eat. And to think, it could have been prevented if a simple WARNING LABEL was put on the packaging, or along with any quinoa recipes I’ve seen, giving proper cleaning instructions.
[source for original quinoa image]
Consider this your warning, and please pin this image and pass along as much as possible because it’s such a simple thing to do to avoid having to deal with a food allergy, or being in pain for hours on end.
I’ve included a warning on all my quinoa recipes so that those who come across any of my recipes will at least have been warned of this issue.
This post about allergic reactions to quinoa gives instructions for washing your quinoa. Please read the instructions and wash this grain properly so you don’t develop an allergy and aren’t able to enjoy it anymore as I have done.
Here’s some more info about quinoa allergies.
I’m off to take some benedryl. I’m hoping that if I can wash a batch properly that I will not have this same reaction (send me some good vibes!)
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Do you have food allergies?
I’ve never had an actual food allergy before. I’m sensitive to gluten and if I ingest a lot, I get really sick a few days later. I’m also sensitive to inulin, which is why bananas and onions sometimes make me sick (unless cooked).
25 Responses to #PSA Wash your Quinoa Unless you Want a Food Allergy
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Hi there. I'm Calee (pronounced CAL-e). If that's too hard, just call me Cal. Also known as chimes or the chimes. I'm 28ish, a designer, a runner, a self-proclaimed fitness queen, a craftster, a foodie, a music snob — some might call me a hipster. Here's the unabridged version.
Wow, this is all news to me! I NEVER wash my quinoa and have never had a problem with it. So sorry to hear about your reaction…8 hours of tummy pain is NO BUENO! Hopefully after washing, you’ll be able to enjoy it again without any problems! Good vibes coming your way for sure!
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I hope you are feeling so much better! This is awful…I had heard that before, actually, but ignored it (as I do with washing most things, honestly). I will definitely be more cognizant of this from now on, because I would HATE to have to eliminate quinoa from my life, even if I don’t eat it all that much.
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I’ve always soaked in the fridge overnight prior to a serious rinse/rub in a mesh strainer and then put it to use. I didn’t do that the first time I tried making it myself and paid the price. Haven’t had any issues since then though! Good luck with your re-try next time!
[...] I didn’t wash it properly / ate improperly prepared quinoa a few times, and now I have an allergy — even with the pre-washed kind. Quinoa flour (for now) is still [...]
About two years ago, after 5+ years of eating quinoa frequently and loving it, I developed a sensitivity. I was never sure what caused it– around the same time my husband and I moved in together (therefore, lifestyle changes), I gained 30 lbs and started having brutal reactions to quinoa and bell peppers. I spent 2 separate nights propped up in bed, crying from the pain, and no amount of Tums made an impact. Ever since I isolated quinoa and bell peppers as the perps, I will accidentally eat some (today I had some 365 brand chips) and my entire torso will ache and burn. I think it’s heartburn but it’s not accompanied by any other heartburn symptoms.
I Googled it when it first started happening and the only result I got is still there– it was on a Celiac forum. Although I am sure gluten is not good for me, I am certainly not suffering from Celiac disease.
Since the last time I looked for other people talking about a sensitivity or allergic reaction to quinoa, your article and the articles you linked to popped up. That provides a compelling case that this sensitivity/allergy can crop up after exposure to something on the food, not the food itself (much like peanuts), but there is no actual research referenced. Has anyone actually researched this? I really want to believe that I can eat quinoa again (bell peppers I don’t miss so much). But this reaction is super painful and asprin, ibuprofin and heartburn medicine don’t kill it.
PS I tried about a tablespoon of my husband’s super delicious sprouted quinoa salad, understanding that I would probably have to face the consequences. BUT it turns out I can eat sprouted quinoa! If noting else it’s an amazing testament to how sprouting changes the structure of a food. You might want to try it sprouted.
I haven’t seen any actual research as to why, but I figure if others are getting sick, then it makes sense that I am too.
I recently did a 15-day juice reboot (jointhereboot.com for more info) and now I’m able to eat more of the stuff that was making me sick. I don’t know why or how that worked, but gluten isn’t a problem anymore (for my stomach — I do get brain fog and achy if I eat to much).
thanks for the post. ate quinoa for the first time and experienced “sit on the bathroom floor at work pain”. could not eat for 2 days or it would return with a vengence. without your post i would not have had a clue as to what was going on. wow. hope the word gets out to be careful with this item, if you have allergies. funny thing is i can’t eat apples, melons or grapefruit, but i attributed that to pesticides. my gut thinking is that the saponin on quinoa might have been acted like the pesticides that cause severe problems.
[...] remain. Rinse, rinse, rinse under running water until it runs clear! Saponin on uncooked quinoa is mildly TOXIC because it’s a natural defence against birds and other animals. It can appear slightly sudsy, [...]
What about a tingly lip, like an allergy to prescriptions? Have been searching out my sensitivity and thought it was shellfish, of course. Had quinoa for supper and lips are tingling…didn’t wash it either…
could be the case! good luck. wash that stuff next time.
I will never eat quinoa again! After trying it for the first time at a restaurant, I ended up in the emergency room last friday after awaking in the middle of the night with chest pain. Doctors never figured out what it was (thankfully it wasn’t a heart attack like I thought). In the back of my mind I thought “could it be the quinoa that I ate for the first time?”. Didn’t think so and so I made it at home last night. I almost didn’t make it through the day at work…same feelings as last Friday. Thought I’d search the internet and see if others were having reactions to it and found your blog. I would not recommend quinoa to anyone.