Whole grain heroes: Why eat ancient grains?

What are ancient grains?

Grains are an important and nutritious food group, but while they may be grown in a field, they are usually highly refined by the time they reach our homes - whether this be in the form of pasta, bread, cereals, or flour. This means that the grains have undergone manufacturing processes that end up removing lots of their nutrients.

Whole grains, on the other hand, are left whole after they have been grown. This means that the three edible parts of the grain - the bran, germ and endosperm - are left fully intact, along with their vitamin and mineral content.

• Bran - the outer shell of the grain.
• Germ - the inside part that contains the starch.
• Endosperm - the inside part that contains most of the nutrients.

Doctors, nutritionists, and other health experts recommend choosing whole grain products because they contain more fibre and nutrients than their white alternatives. For example, whole wheat bread and brown rice contain more fibre than white bread and white rice. In fact, four servings (70g each) of whole grains a day could lower your risk of death by around 22%¹.

Yet, many products that we consider to be whole grain have been modified by humans at some point, whether through crossbreeding with other grains or genetic modification.

Modern whole grains versus ancient grains

Ancient grains are the whole grains that have never been altered, as London-based dietitian Karine Patel explains: "Ancient grains are completely unrefined, known to have remained intact and unchanged in the human diet for thousands of years."

Now, emerging research suggests that ancient grains pack in even more important vitamins, fibre, and protein than our so-called modern whole grains.

For example, one cup (225g) of cooked teff – an ancient grain - contains 7g of fibre and 10g of protein, whereas the same amount of cooked brown rice - a minimally processed modern whole grain - contains 3g of fibre and 5g of protein.

The benefits of ancient grains

According to Patel, eating ancient grains - which are filled with vitamins, minerals, fibre, and protein - is associated with improved digestive health and a lower risk of several serious health conditions.

Heart disease

Modern whole grains are very heart healthy when compared to refined grains like white bread and white flour. However, it appears that ancient grains are even better at reducing the risk factors for heart disease.

One study comparing bread made either with modern grains or ancient grains found that only the ancient varieties significantly reduced bad cholesterol, called low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), and blood sugar levels².

Type 2 diabetes

If you're managing type 2 diabetes, choosing grains that are richer in fibre can help prevent spikes in blood sugar and support better insulin control². This is because fibre allows you to digest your food more slowly, which in turn slows down the rate at which sugar enters your bloodstream.

Certain cancers

It's possible that unprocessed grains may protect us against certain cancers, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research. According to their study, the chances of developing colorectal cancer reduced by 17% with three 90g servings of whole grains a day³.

Currently, there isn't much data on cancer and ancient grains specifically, but it's likely they have a similar - if not greater - protective effect. Whole grains may also reduce the risk of other cancers, including breast cancer, but more research is needed³.

Digestion

Most varieties of ancient grains tend to be high in fibre and free from/low in gluten, which makes them easier for our bodies to digest, compared to modern wheat⁴. This makes ancient grains a good choice if you're prone to digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or if you have gluten sensitivity.

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Ancient grains in your diet

Ancient grains may be more nutritious than modern grains, but all whole grains have important health benefits. There's no need to replace modern whole wheat and corn with a fully ancient grain diet, and you'll probably find this quickly becomes too pricey.

Instead, we should aim to replace the refined grains in our diet with ancient grains and other whole grains, according to Patel. "This means replacing our usual potatoes, rice, and pasta as often as possible," says the dietitian.

All whole grains, including ancient grains, are carbohydrates. Patel reminds us that this food group should make up roughly one third of the food we eat.

If you're looking to lose weight healthily, all food groups are important, but bear in mind that ancient grains also tend to contain more calories than modern grains.

The key is to keep your portions modest - with ancient grains, you can have less and still get more nutrients and goodness.

Further reading

1. Zong et al: Whole grain intake and mortality from all causes, cardiovascular sisease, and cancer.
2. Sereni et al: Cardiovascular benefits from ancient grain bread consumption: findings from a double-blinded randomized crossover intervention trial.
3. American Institute for Cancer Research: Whole grains protect against colorectal cancer.
4. Majzoobi et al: The role of ancient grains in alleviating hunger and malnutrition.