Sprouted Grains: Nature’s Secret for a Thinner Waistline and Healthier Life

Hello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.

This is a guest post by Alexis Bonari of onlinedegrees.org

When I first started trying to live a healthier lifestyle, I quickly realized one thing —low-carb diets weren’t for me. A week after I started cutting carbohydrates out of my diet, I felt terrible. I had no energy, I craved bread all the time, and I couldn’t focus. How was I supposed to regulate my blood sugar and reduce sugar cravings while still eating bread and cereal? Luckily, a close friend suggested spelt.

Discovering the low glycemic difference.

Like me, you’ve probably never heard of spelt or other sprouted grains. These grains are not allowed to dry out before being ground. As a result, they are less starchy than their dried equivalents.

Unlike regular wheat flour, they don’t cause a spike in your blood sugar. Foods that don’t cause a dramatic increase in blood sugar over a short period of time are referred to as “low glycemic index foods”.

Breads and cereals made with spelt and amaranth —another low glycemic index grain— are commonly available in health food stores and some major grocery chains.

Instead of whole wheat, think spelt.

It has been proven time and again that sugar, especially in its purest form, is highly addictive. Those who habitually eat large quantities of processed sugar in the form of corn syrup and white sugar weigh up to ten pounds more than those who choose unprocessed, whole grains. The difference between the processed and unprocessed sugars is how they affect your glycemic index.

Eating spelt or amaranth instead of whole wheat is simply taking the concept of eating unprocessed grains a step further. The taste and texture of spelt bread is approximately the same as that of whole wheat.

Spelt for your health.

Spelt and other low glycemic index grains have been proven to help with more than weight loss. They can dramatically improve quality of life for diabetics and those suffering from adrenal disorders. For diabetics who must count every gram of carbohydrates consumed, this discovery is potentially life changing. An average slice of spelt bread raises your blood sugar to a much lesser degree than the average slice of whole-wheat bread.

Many people who suffer form adrenal disorders report that they experience fewer hot flashes after eating spelt bread and amaranth cereal. Since making the switch to low glycemic index foods, I have lost several pounds with hardly any effort. Better yet, I’ve lost most of my craving for high-carbohydrate foods.

Whether you suffer from blood sugar related health issues, or you simply want to lose a few pounds, spelt might be the answer to your prayers.

Bio: Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at onlinedegrees.org, researching areas of online education programs. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.