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We know how important it is to eat lots of fruit and vegetables and drink natural alkaline water, but what about wheat products? We eat it every day. More and more people are suffering from wheat allergies than ever and I think I know why.. Wheat: It’s Not What It Used To Be The development of wheat The production of wheat is not a new phenomenon. Wheat has been successfully cultivated for thousands of years. But since the industrial revolution, wheat cultivation has taken a dramatic shift for the worse. Everything has changed; how we grow wheat, how we process it, the way we store it and even the way we eat it. The steel roller mill appeared around 1870, replacing stone mills. This is where industrial white flour was first introduced widely. Instead of mashing all components together like the stone mill, the steel roller mill could separate the flour with ease, allowing for cheap production of pure white flour. Pesticide companies like Monsanto and Dupont and GMOs work synergistically together to create a higher efficiency as well as a higher output. These changes have created a substance that we still call “wheat”, yet contains a fraction of it’s nutrition. Our wheat is being chemically treated and mass produced. What used to be natural, nutrient dense grain that slowly releases energy is now pesticide laden, stripped of all its goodness and gives you a sugar rush. How “Wheat” Is Affecting Your Health It’s clear that the changes to wheat have affected our health. Modern wheat has addictive properties, spikes blood sugar, plays a role in poor digestion and obesity, exposes us to toxins, is low in nutrients and more. Here are some of the ways in which wheat is deteriorating your health: Obesity - Modern wheat takes longer to digest so you end up eating more. Overeating processed carbohydrates causes fat storage to increase. In severe cases, individuals become insulin resistant. We all know that there is a direct link between obesity and type II diabetes. Basically, any carbohydrates that are not used for energy immediately, are stored within the body. Asthma - An enzyme used for bread making called amylase is known to cause asthma. Gluten Intolerance/Coeliac Disease: Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye and is the culprit behind Coeliac disease which can cause your immune system to react abnormally and in turn damaging your small bowel. Vitamin Deficiency: On average, 40% of the original wheat grain is being removed. This 40% contains bran and the germ, being the most nutrient-rich portion. When our modern wheat is being processed, over half of the vitamins are lost including vitamins B1, B2 and B3, calcium, copper, zinc, fibre, iron and phosphorus. Even 100% whole wheat products use modern wheat strains (chemically exposed, highly processed and encourages unnatural techniques to battle mutation). These are just some of the issues associated with modern wheat. So, what do you do? Healthier Wheat Options All of this negative talk may be overwhelming. Don’t worry there is hope. Here are some better options: Spelt - Spelt is an ancient grain that dates back around 9000 years! It actually contains gluten but easier to digest than white wheat. It’s high in protein and the nine essential amino acids. Amaranth - This grain offers so many nutritional benefits. It is high in protein, fibre, calcium, magnesium and lysine (an essential amino acid). Amaranth was shown to lower cholesterol in hamsters. Millet - Another great source of protein and for maintaining your energy levels. It helps to regulate and control your blood sugar levels. Millet can be ground into flour, so look for it as a substitute to conventional white flour. Barley - This is a great grain because it is quite versatile. It can be used for flour, beer production or even within soups. It contains about a quarter of your daily recommended fibre and may aid in lowering cholesterol. Buckwheat - Buckwheat has been known to lower cholesterol and help with diabetes (lowering glucose levels). Kamut - Kamut is actually a brand name but it’s actually the name for an ancient Khorasan wheat. This wheat provides protein, antioxidants, zinc and selenium. It’s time to re-think modern wheat. Start making small changes, incorporating more of the above grains into your diet and you’ll see improvements in your immune system, digestion and energy levels. For more natural health tips visit our blog at: http://www.alkalife.com.au/blog
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