What are the health benefits of einkorn wheat?
Einkorn is an ancient wheat that has been cultivated for over 10,000 years and is becoming increasingly popular due to its health benefits.
This whole grain is a good source of fiber and protein, and is also packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the health benefits of einkorn!
Einkorn has more nutrients than modern wheat
So what is the difference between einkorn and regular wheat? Is einkorn really better for you?
In many ways, yes.
Einkorn is more nutritious than modern wheat. It has more protein, fiber, and nutrients and it is also a good source of iron and magnesium. This ancient grain is more nutritious because it has not been hybridized or modified like modern wheat has.
As a result, einkorn retains more of its nutrient content.
Einkorn is packed with nutrients. One cup of cooked einkorn contains:
-14 grams of protein
-6 grams of fiber
-80 milligrams of magnesium
-10% DV of iron
Einkorn is also a good source of zinc, phosphorus, thiamin, and B6.
All of these nutrients are essential for maintaining good health.
For example, protein helps repair tissue and build muscle, while fiber aids in digestion and prevents constipation.
Magnesium is important for maintaining healthy bones and muscles, and iron helps transport oxygen throughout the body.
In addition to being nutrient-rich, einkorn is also high in antioxidants.
Antioxidants help protect cells from damage by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause cell damage, leading to inflammation and disease.
Some research suggests that the antioxidants in einkorn may help protect against heart disease and certain cancers.
Einkorn is also a good source of carotenoids, which are compounds that give fruits and vegetables their color.
Carotenoids have been linked to a number of health benefits, including a reduced risk of cancer and heart disease.
One type of carotenoid found in einkorn, lutein, has also been shown to improve eye health and prevent age-related macular degeneration.
Einkorn is easier to digest and a good choice for people with gluten sensitivities
Like many other foods, modern wheat has been hybridized to make it more resilient for farmers, so they could create bigger yields and prevent diseased crops.
Unfortunately, these changes could also be to blame for the rise of gluten sensitivities, intolerance, and celiac disease.
Remember that all wheat contains gluten, and gluten consists of two different proteins: gliadin and glutenin. Most people with gluten issues react negatively to the gliadin.
Einkorn has a higher ratio of gliadin to glutenin, so naturally you’d think that it would be worse for those with gluten sensitivities than modern wheat.
BUT, because Einkorn is NOT hybridized, the original DNA structure remains intact and it actually helps the body to digest these gluten proteins properly.
This means that people who are gluten sensitive or gluten intolerant are often able to eat Einkorn!
Please take note that this does NOT mean that people with celiac disease are able to consume einkorn or any wheat. That is an entirely different issue.
Einkorn can help you lose weight
If you are trying to lose weight, einkorn can help you reach your goals.
The fact that this grain is higher in protein and fiber than other grains, means it can help you feel more full after eating.
Einkorn is also lower on the glycemic index than other grains, which means that it won’t cause your blood sugar to spike after eating.
Obviously this doesn’t mean that you can eat tons of einkorn and the pounds will just fall off, but compared to regular modern wheat, adding einkorn to your diet can help you lose weight in a healthy way.
Einkorn can help improve blood sugar levels
Einkorn wheat is a whole grain, meaning that it still has the bran and germ intact. This is what gives einkorn wheat it’s higher fiber content, which can help to regulate blood sugar levels.
For people with diabetes, this can be extremely beneficial. Therefore, einkorn wheat may be a better choice for people looking to control their blood sugar levels.
A study done at the Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark investigated the effects of ancient wheat whole grain flour diets on the development of type 2 diabetes, specifically to look at the glycemic responses.
The study concluded that ancient wheat diets decreased cell production relating to glucose and fat metabolism, equivalent to prevention or delay of diabetes. Which makes it a good idea to include ancient grains and flours like einkorn flour into your diet
How to add einkorn to your diet
When I first started learning about einkorn, my number one question was “can I replace traditional all purpose flour with einkorn flour?”
The answer is yes! My favorite way to incorporate einkorn is to use einkorn flour in place of all purpose flour in many of my recipes.
My favorite is making einkorn waffles, my kids beg me to make them at least 5 times a week! But I also love incorporating einkorn flour into most baked goods.
In our house, if it’s not sourdough or sprouted, it’s most likely einkorn.
I like to use Jovial All-Purpose Einkorn Flour but if you prefer whole wheat they also have a whole wheat flour.
Where to buy einkorn flour
I usually get my einkorn flour from Thrive Market at a discount, which you can read more about here, but you can also buy it on Amazon or any other health food store or website.
There are also several einkorn products on the market that are great for convenience like einkorn pasta and einkorn crackers.
I personally love buying pre-made einkorn pasta and using the all purpose flour for everything else.
Or if you prefer to mill your own flour at home you can buy einkorn wheat berries as well.
Is einkorn the healthiest flour?
There are several different healthy options if you are looking for a better alternative to modern wheat flour. But einkorn, in my personal opinion, is the best tasting and has the most benefits to your health.
Ready to try einkorn?
There are so many good reasons to add einkorn to your diet! All the health benefits of einkorn make it a great option for anyone looking to improve their diet, so if you’re looking for a nutritious and delicious way to improve your health, you should definitely give einkorn a try.
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I had never heard of einkorn but I like that it has more protein than regular wheat & is easier to digest.
I will be honest, I hadn’t heard of this before. I will have to try it out now.
I honestly had no idea what this was until now. I’m going to have to give it a try. Sounds really interesting.
I always say you can learn something new every day if you try. Today I learned about an ancient grain that is new to me.
Your article on the health benefits of Einkorn was eye-opening! I had no idea about its nutritional value. Thanks for highlighting the reasons to include it in our diets. Excited to explore more about this ancient grain!
This is the first time that I heard of this. I will have to make the switch. There are many different benefits that will help you be healthier.
That was an incredibly informative post, I had never heard of Einkorn before now and it’ll be something I’ll look into further now and try for myself I think!
I’ve recently been into Einkorn products and learning the benefits. Thank you for sharing!
Oh yes! I am ready to try einkorn wheat! I am impressed of all its benefits!
I had no idea what Einkorn was until I read this article. I love how much protein it has
Sounds like my family needs to try Einkorn. We could always use more magnesium in our diets
Wow! Very informative, thanks for sharing this with us. Never thought about Einkorn but this sounds very nutritious!
I had no idea of this wheat variety and definitely need to check it out for it seems to have so many benefits over regular wheat.. thank you for sharing
Einkorn means single grain in German…while so, it still has a lot of carbohydrates for my liking, thanks for sharing the other health benefits. 🙂