| Hola Everyone, | | | | in Quinoa. In 1997 they then joined with another |
| This is a bit of a convoluted story. It is mainly | | | | volunteer to put the parties together to get the |
| about a new discovery of ours that just | | | | Heirloom Quinoa Project started. The standard of |
| happened by accident. So we would like to share | | | | living in the local villages has risen, and so has the |
| it with you. | | | | standard of health. |
| We recently decided to do a 21 day detox | | | | The income of the12 families was 50% higher in |
| program as illustrated in a book called "CLEAN". | | | | the first year than the other farmers simply by |
| The program is essentially juices, smoothies or | | | | growing organic quinoa. In the following year, 36 |
| soups in the mornings and evenings, but with a | | | | families joined the program and in 2000, there |
| normal meal at lunchtime plus various supplements | | | | were 51 families growing for the Heirloom Quinoa |
| and of course there are foods and beverages | | | | Project. By 2003, 4025 families in four provinces |
| which are NOT permitted. | | | | of Ecuador were planting over 2800 acres of |
| Over the years we have participated in other | | | | Quinoa to produce over 400 metric tons of |
| detox programmes plus attended Health Retreats | | | | organic heirloom quinoa for exportation - with |
| back in Australia. Doing a detox and staying off | | | | about one-third more being consumed by the |
| certain foods is not always easy. What I like | | | | families themselves. |
| about this one is that you can have a main meal | | | | The Heirloom Project insisted that one-third of |
| (restricting certain foods of course) at lunch time. | | | | production be retained for home consumption. |
| This of course works well here in Ecuador as | | | | Malnutrition is now virtually non-existent - down |
| lunch is the main meal of the day and everyone | | | | from 74% before the project started. I think that |
| takes time out to enjoy it. | | | | is an amazing achievement in such a short space |
| Anyway one of the foods that is permitted in the | | | | of time. |
| CLEAN program is Quinoa(pronounced keen-wá). | | | | It shows what the power of just a small number |
| Funnily enough I had bought some Quinoa the | | | | of people can do. Just think what a difference we |
| week before we started as I wanted to make a | | | | could make if there were more Bob and Maggi |
| favorite curry recipe that we picked up when we | | | | Leventry's in this country. |
| were at a Health Retreat in Australia. | | | | Compost is used as the organic fertilizer, after it |
| On about day 3 of our detox program we used | | | | has been passed through large worm farms. |
| Quinoa in a soup. It was delicious. We then went | | | | Yields have increased from 1,000 kg per hectare |
| off and did some more research on the product | | | | to 1,400 kg/ha by using worm castings as organic |
| and were quite amazed at what we read. In fact | | | | fertilizer. And the quinoa is rotated with lupins, |
| there is quite a great Ecuadorian success story | | | | legumes to put nitrogen back into the soil. In |
| that I would like to summarize for you. | | | | addition, amaranth is grown to supplement the |
| Quinoa is a seed grain that has been cultivated in | | | | diets, and to sell excess production. |
| the Andean region for over 7,000 years and was | | | | So if you want to try quinoa, and make it a |
| considered sacred by the Inca Empire. It was | | | | staple part of your diet to improve cardiovascular |
| later replaced almost completely by cereals such | | | | issues, diabetes or migraines, or use it to lose |
| as barley, wheat, potatoes and corn. But most of | | | | weight, just check out the books that have been |
| these crops did not do well in the high Andes, and | | | | written on this Andean product. |
| they were mostly subject to the whims of the | | | | We have now discovered that there is a diet |
| international markets. | | | | book based on quinoa. The author claims that you |
| In response to the poor yield from non-native | | | | can lose 7 pounds in 7 days just by following his |
| crops, US pesticide and fertilizer manufacturers led | | | | quinoa program. |
| an aggressive campaign in the region with the | | | | Here are a few nutritional facts about Quinoa to |
| support of the government and governmental | | | | wet your appetite: |
| agencies. Pesticide and fertilizer use in Ecuador | | | | The United Nations have classified quinoa as a |
| increased dramatically over the years leading to | | | | "super crop" because it is a complete protein. |
| depleted soil and a rise in associated health | | | | Quinoa has slow releasing, high level of |
| problems. In fact, DDT, supplied by a US | | | | carbohydrates that give the stomach a full feeling |
| company, is still being used on Ecuador's | | | | for a long time - ideal for weight control and to |
| agricultural land. | | | | maintain adequate blood sugar levels. |
| This story is about farming families in the | | | | It is a complete protein because it contains all 9 |
| Chimborazo Province, in a village called Los | | | | essential amino acids, and is well endowed with |
| Angeles de Colta. The altitude is about 10,000 | | | | lysine, which is essential for tissue growth and |
| feet. The area is near the city of Riobamba - | | | | repair? |
| part-way between Quito and Cuenca. | | | | One cup of quinoa contains about 8 grams of |
| Not long ago, the crops of Los Angeles were not | | | | protein, about twice that of other grains. |
| any different than those of the rest of the | | | | Quinoa is a very good source of manganese, |
| Ecuadorian agricultural industry. The farmers' yields | | | | magnesium, iron, copper and phosphorus - making |
| were low, their return was almost nonexistent, | | | | it especially valuable for persons with migraine |
| and their children were suffering from malnutrition. | | | | headaches, diabetes and atherosclerosis. |
| In 1998, twelve Los Angeles de Colta families | | | | It is a good source of riboflavin, which is |
| agreed to cultivate quinoa in the traditional organic | | | | necessary for energy production within cells? |
| way for a group called the Heirloom Quinoa | | | | As a good source of manganese and copper, |
| Project. The Project is the cooperative effort of | | | | these two minerals in Quinoa serve as cofactors |
| four international organizations: The People's | | | | for the superoxide dismutase enzyme - an |
| Educational Radio of Ecuador (ERPE), a | | | | antioxidant. |
| progressive radio station dedicated to education | | | | Quinoa is a good source of fiber - about 5 grams |
| and social service; Germany's Bio Control System | | | | per cup (cooked) |
| (BCS), a global organic certification organization; | | | | It is gluten-free, great for gluten intolerant people. |
| the Canadian Development Fund, a fund for | | | | It is worth noting that gluten products are not |
| Ecuadorian development based in Canada; and | | | | allowed on the CLEAN program |
| Chicago's Inca Organics, the distributor and | | | | Want some ideas on how to cook Quinoa and |
| marketer of the finished product. | | | | recipes to make some wonderful healthy meals |
| In fact it was retired Chicago couple, Bob and | | | | go to |
| Maggi Leventry, who founded Inca Organics and | | | | We hope you have enjoyed this Newsletter and |
| started the whole program. They had spent three | | | | feel free to pass it onto your family and friends. |
| years in Ecuador in the Peace Corp after they | | | | Until next I write. |
| retired. Maggi, a dietician, became very interested | | | | |