Diana writes: "I eat quinoa all the time but now I’m learning that the saponins in quinoa could cause intestinal damage and an inflammatory immune response? I would love your thoughts on this.”
If you look hard enough, you can find some sort of sinister side to every so-called superfood. I guess it was only a matter of time before quinoa got its comeuppance! And sure enough, a quick Google search will lead you to all kinds of scary warnings about the saponins in quinoa.
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Some claim that saponins are toxic and that they irritate the intestinal lining, causing inflammation and all kinds of other trouble. But is there evidence to support these claims?
What Are Saponins?
Saponins are bitter compounds that are naturally present in quinoa—along with lots of other foods, including a wide variety of legumes, vegetables, and herbs. They get their name because they lather up in water, like soap suds. In fact, the herb soapwort is one of the most concentrated sources of saponins and can be used to make a natural cleanser.
Like many other phyto-compounds, saponins are produced by plants as a method of natural pest control. The bitter taste of these compounds makes the plant less palatable to birds, insects, and humans.