As a member of the whole grains family, spelt may not be as popular as whole, wheat, rye or barley. However, the health benefits of this ancient grain cannot beat that of its ‘cousins’, plus people who are allergic to wheat can use spelt as their alternative whole grain source.
Spelt contains more than 60% of the recommended daily value of manganese that your body needs. It is also rich in dietary fibers, phosphorus, vitamin B3, magnesium, protein and copper.
The health benefits of spelt do not stop there. This grain is extremely beneficial for the heart. Since it contains niacin, spelt helps reduce the bad cholesterol in the body. It also helps reduce the risks of heart failure since spelt is a complete source of dietary fibers.
In addition, spelt helps lower the incidence of:
• Gallstones
• Type 2 diabetes
• Breast cancer
• Childhood asthma
The nutty flavor of spelt can be best enjoyed by using spelt bread in a thick, heartily satisfying sandwich. Spelt pasta tastes great with your favorite tomato or white sauce, while spelt flour can be incorporated with your regular flour when baking.