Einkorn flour – what is it, benefits and harms!
Einkorn flour is a type of vitamin that has many ways to improve your life, as it is rich in vitamins and minerals essential to health.
Why is healthy wheat so hard to come by? You may have heard of the words “frankenwheat” or “frankenfoods”, which were imposed on the public by agricultural geneticists due to the scientific engineering of wheat food products.
Origins of einkorn flour :
It is an ancient variety of wheat and one of the first cultivated cereal grains in history. It was cultivated as early as the early Bronze Age – however, and other ancient wheats disappeared as modern hybrid wheats became a large part of wheat and skin production .
Today, it is mainly grown in Europe, but due to the high protein content and nutritional value it offers, it is different from our modern wheat. When modern wheat breads were compared to breads made in France, the breads had a light, rich flavor, leaving modern wheat bread products almost tasteless and less desirable.
Grains, berries and einkorn flour are used in various food dishes such as soups, salads, stews, sauces, breads, cakes, pancakes and waffles, it can be safer to consume than modern flours for those who are gluten sensitive and water .
This wheat is believed to have originated in the upper area of the Near East. Through its wide distribution throughout the Near East, Transcaucasia, the Mediterranean region, southwestern Europe and the Balkans, it was one of the first cereals cultivated for food.
Nutritional value of einkorn flour :
A 100 gram serving of einkorn flour contains approximately:
- 1450 calories;
- 18.2 grams of protein ;
- 2.5 grams of fat;
- 8.7 grams of fiber ;
- 415 milligrams of phosphorus (42% of DV);
- 0.5 milligrams of thiamine (33% of DV);
- 0,5 mg de riboflavina (29% do VD);
- 4.6 milligrams of iron (26% of DV);
- 0.5 milligrams of vitamin B6 (25% of the DV);
- 3.1 milligrams of niacin (16% of DV);
- 2.2 milligrams of zinc (15% of DV);
- 390 milligrams of potassium (11% of the DV);
- 312 IU of vitamin A (6% of DV).
Health benefits of einkorn flour :
Ancient grains are considered by many to be more nutritious than modern varieties. Einkorn flour is the oldest wheat, offering many essential minerals for dieters. It is a good source of protein , iron , dietary fiber , thiamine and several other B vitamins .
It also contains a significant amount of lutein with higher levels of antioxidants than durum wheat.
There is a much lower percentage of nutrient loss during processing, and it can be substituted for whole wheat flour in most recipes, although it may result in a different texture. Regardless, the results are worth exploring, especially since the nutritional benefits likely outweigh other options.
1. Reduce the risk of eye disease:
The sprouting process can provide significant benefits to many of our foods. In one study, the germination times and lighting conditions of carotenoids found in spelled, durum, emmer were investigated.
It revealed that carotenoid levels increased significantly during emergence, particularly under light exposure, although concentrations of some other lipophilic antioxidants had a lesser effect.
Dietary carotenoids are believed to provide health benefits in decreasing the risk of some diseases, including eye diseases such as macular degeneration , because the beneficial effects of carotenoids are likely due to their role as antioxidants.
Lutein, zeaxanthin and β-carotene, found , may be protective in eye disease because they can absorb harmful light that enters the eye. This information gives rise to the idea that wheat sprouts can be a great functional ingredient to increase the nutritional value of cereal products .
2. Limit allergy symptoms:
The number of wheat allergic patients has increased in recent years, with a need and desire for less allergenic wheat varieties. The aim of a recent study was to analyze 324 wheat varieties chosen from various parts of the world.
To ensure the best screening, the test was examined with major wheat allergens or gluten components , including glutenin and gliadin. The patients’ antibodies reacted to these three allergens.
Several varieties, including, were identified as less allergenic. These findings will lead to further research into less allergenic wheat options and likely to become parent plants for breeding, with the aim of helping wheat-allergic patients in eliminating or treating food allergies .
3. For weight loss:
When our bodies are able to better digest food, it can help with weight loss . There are 30% more people who are obese than undernourished in the world, and much is attributed to the increase in the amount of frankenwheat in our foods. In fact, it’s been reported that every American consumes around 25 pounds of wheat flour every year!
Einkorn flour is a healthier choice, and while it’s best to consume whole wheat in moderation, choosing old-fashioned cereals can reduce your risk of obesity and can help you with weight loss, especially as studies show that the quality trumps others. wheats.
Although whole wheat flour is limited in dietary fiber , it is rich in protein and unsaturated fatty acids, fructans, and trace elements such as zinc and iron . The good concentration of several antioxidant compounds combined with these trace elements contribute to the excellent nutritional properties of Flour.
Functional foods have become more important, and the health benefits suggest that they can play a significant role in human consumption and in the development of new or specialized foods that contain the best nutritional quality.
In any case, to reap the benefits, make sure the product is in its purest form and not combined with chemicals or miscellaneous ingredients.
4. Control Type 2 Diabetes:
A study in Denmark investigated the physiological effects of ancient whole-wheat flour diets on the development and progression of type 2 diabetes , specifically to look at glycemic responses. An intervention study was carried out, involving the consumption of five different diets, including emmer, spelt, rye flour and refined wheat, for a period of nine weeks.
The test revealed a downregulation of liver genes, the process by which a cell decreases the amount of a cellular component in response to an external variable. Spelled and rye induced a low acute glycemic response.
The wheat group had higher levels of HDL cholesterol and total cholesterol. The study concluded that ancient wheat diets decreased the production of cells related to glucose and fat metabolism, equivalent to preventing or delaying the development of diabetes.
So it’s a good idea to include ancient grains and flours like einkorn flour in any diabetes diet plan.
Einkorn X Whole Wheat Flour:
Here are some of the biggest distinctions between einkorn flour and whole wheat.
The grains are much smaller than modern wheat grains.
It lacks the crease that is present in modern wheat grains. Which arose in modern wheat due to its genetic alteration. Choosing seeds that provide more gluten and higher yields that are ideal for large-scale production and distribution on larger farms.
It has gluten, but it can be a healthier version, making it easier to digest compared to the gluten found in modern wheat. It does not contain the D genome, but the A genome, a significant difference because the most popular test to detect the presence of gluten is based on the presence of the D genome.
Although it contains gluten, it is a different type of gluten and passes the ELISA test. Which is a commonly used lab test to detect antibodies in the blood.
Harms of einkorn flour:
It is best to ensure that any grain is safe, especially if it is gluten sensitive. It contains gluten, which makes it unsafe for anyone with celiac disease.
Final considerations:
Einkorn flour is an ancient wheat grain that is healthier than traditional whole wheat. This is partly due to its much lower gluten content and. While it is not gluten-free, it is much easier to digest and is generally good for most people with a gluten allergy. However, it is not safe for people with celiac disease.
If you don’t have celiac disease, however, einkorn flour is a great choice and definitely preferable to whole wheat.
Why?
Because it has been shown to reduce the risk of eye disease, limit allergy symptoms , help with weight loss , may help delay the onset of type 2 diabetes, and prevent the risk of disease.
So, if you are tired of the negative effects that traditional whole wheat contains and want superior wheat, this is the right choice.