We have been asked about a variety of wheat called khorasan or kamut, what are its benefits and contraindications.
To give answers to this concern, it is first necessary to know the interesting history of this wheat.
A grain of this type of wheat was found in a pyramid in Egypt and some grains were given to an American airman around 1949. The airman sent them to his father, a wheat farmer in Montana, and planted a small amount of grain.
He had no commercial success with it, and interest in the grain died away until Bob Quinn and Mack, father and son from Montana, decided to grow the ancient grain in 1977. In 1990, the Quinns registered the protected and cultivated variety of turanicum QK. -77 as the trademark Kamut®. Today, the wheat formerly popular as Khorasan wheat is called Kamut and is sold at your health food store. Let’s see below its benefits:
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Khorasan Wheat Benefits
Supports Bone Health: The manganese found in wheat promotes strong, healthy bones. This important mineral aids in the reduction of bone loss, especially in older women and more susceptible to raw and weak bones. Since manganese helps regulate hormones and enzymes, it is also involved in bone metabolism.
One study reported that eating a combination of calcium, zinc, manganese, and copper helped reduce spinal loss in a group of postmenopausal women. Due to mineral deficiencies, half of all women and a quarter of men over the age of 52 break a bone due to osteoporosis.
The disease usually develops unnoticed for many years, with no symptoms or discomfort until a fracture occurs. Small holes or weakened areas form in the bone, leading to pain and fractures.
Eating foods high in manganese, such as Kamut, which has more than 100% of the daily value indicated in one cup, is important for keeping bones strong and serves as a natural treatment for osteoporosis and bone damage symptoms.
Helps the Digestive System: Since the wheat we are talking about is a food rich in fiber, it helps in the regularity and function of the digestive system. Fibrous carbohydrates, like Kamut, cleanse your body, fill you up, and help fight bacteria and toxins as they increase nutrient absorption.
The digestive system is functioning passing the food consumed goes through a series of phases. Once it reaches the colon, most of the nutrient absorption has already occurred, but the water, fat-soluble vitamins, and minerals are absorbed in the colon and are waiting to be excreted.
The level of zinc found in Kamut also helps in regulating digestion. Zinc deficiency is linked to diarrheal diseases and chronic digestive problems, so zinc supplementation has been shown to be effective both in the prophylaxis and in the treatment of diarrhea.
Detoxifies the Body: If you have frequent headaches, bloating, gas, fatigue, muscle aches, skin problems, and bad breath, it may be necessary to detoxify your liver. Kamut is an excellent source of phosphorus, an essential mineral involved in hundreds of cellular activities every day. Foods rich in phosphorus are important for kidney function and help detoxify the body, eliminating toxins and waste through urine.
In order to balance the levels of sodium, uric acid, water, and fat in the body, the kidneys and other digestive organs depend on electrolytes such as phosphorous, magnesium, and potassium.
High source of protein: Protein makes up the structure of organs, muscles, and cells in our bodies; Kamut is a high source of protein that helps our bodies in the production of hormones, coenzymes, blood cells and even DNA. The great benefit of eating protein-rich foods is weight control. Protein increases satiety (or fullness) during meals, causing individuals to eat less.
A 2015 scientific analysis showed that higher protein meals improved participants’ appetite, body weight control, and cardiometabolic risk factors. These improvements are believed to be due, in part, to modulations in energy metabolism and energy consumption.
Fight the common cold: The zinc found in Kamut is capable of warding off the common cold and symptoms of other diseases. Studies show that zinc can interfere with the molecular process that causes the formation of mucus and bacteria in the nasal passages. Ionic zinc, based on its electrical charge, has the intelligence to exert an antiviral effect, binding to receptors on nasal epithelial cells and blocking viral infection.
Another 2013 study found that zinc intake was linked to significantly reduced duration of the common cold. The proportion of participants experiencing cold symptoms after seven days of treatment was significantly lower than those in the control group. In addition, the incidence of developing a cold or taking antibiotics was decreased in participants receiving zinc treatment.
Support Brain Health: The manganese found in kamut supports cognitive health and helps make khorasan wheat a viable brain food. Did you know that a percentage of the body’s manganese supply exists in the brain? Therefore, manganese is closely related to cognitive function.
Manganese is released in the synaptic cleft of the brain and affects synaptic neurotransmission, so it is possible that a deficiency of the mineral could make people more prone to mental illness, mood swings, epilepsy and even learning difficulties.
One study explains that manganese is essential for normal cell function and metabolism.» Another study analyzes that a manganese deficiency can increase susceptibility to epileptic functions and appears to affect manganese homeostasis in the brain, which is probably followed by impaired neural activity. (It is important to note that manganese can have a toxic effect on the brain when consumed in excess.)
Balance Hormones: Manganese and zinc are responsible for naturally balancing the hormones in the body. Zinc benefits hormonal health and fertility because it plays an important role in hormone production, including naturally increasing testosterone, which has a large role in women and especially in men.
Zinc benefits female sex hormones and is involved in the creation and release of eggs inside and outside of the ovaries. It is necessary for the production of estrogen and progesterone in women, as both support reproductive health. When estrogen levels are too high or too low, this causes menstrual problems, infertility, mood swings and easy menopause, and can even increase the risk of cancer.
A study conducted in Iran examined the ability of zinc to treat sexual dysfunction in chronic kidney patients undergoing hemodialysis. One hundred males received a zinc supplement of 250 milligrams daily for six weeks. As a result of the treatment, testosterone levels increased significantly, suggesting that zinc may aid sexual function in patients suffering from sexual dysfunction.
Lowers cholesterol: Eating foods high in fiber such as Kamut is effective in lowering cholesterol because fiber helps the digestive system and helps the body eliminate toxins and undesirable waste. One study compared Kamut wheat to semi-whole wheat.
The participants ate products, including pasta, cookies, and bread, made from one type of wheat. After an eight week consumption period, laboratory analysis showed that Kamut products may be effective in reducing metabolic risk factors, markers of both oxidative stress and inflammatory status.
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Contraindications and side effects
Kamut wheat is safe for consumption in food amounts. Please note that Kamut is gluten free. It is known to be lower in gluten than whole wheat products and easier to digest, but if you have a severe gluten intolerance, such as celiac disease, you should avoid eating it.
If you have never used Kamut before, start with small amounts and see how you feel. If you start to experience nausea, skin irritations, and headaches, you may be allergic to Kamut.
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