Lately, grains have become a controversial food in modern society. The real problem with grains is the recent researches which claim that a huge number of food allergies, digestive problems, and autoimmune diseases are a direct consequence of wheat consumption.

On one hand, we have experts who claim that grains are a modern addition to the food supply and have only been consumed for the last 10,000 years or so but humans are not meant to eat them. Others claim that grains are the foundation of our food supply and have been for thousands of years.

Whom should I believe in

Maybe both, as we might not be eating the same grain which our forefathers ate.

Grains have changed the way they used to be

One of the biggest problems with modern grains is that they are not the same as they used to be a few hundred years ago… or even a few decades ago. What may surprise you is that grains consumed in the U.S. are not the same as the grains eaten in other countries… especially when it comes to wheat.

Few  Hundred Years Ago…

The modern-day roller flour mill was invented in 1872.  Before this time, grains were ground in the whole form, and the flour contained all the components of the whole grain. With the dawn of the modern mill, it was now possible to separate the parts of the whole grain and use just the starchy endosperm to create an inexpensive and very finely ground white flour (similar to most flour used today).

Without the bran and germ, these newly refined flours lasted longer on the shelf but contained much lower levels of nutrients. Along with the reduced cost of flour from the newer and more efficient method of refining, flour was now available and affordable to almost everyone. This ease of production increased the amount of flour consumed. Various food was designed around the wheat flour resulting in the further boost of its consumption. This wouldn’t have been as big of a problem on its own, until…

Two Decades Ago…

Agronomists developed the new variety of wheat that is what we know as wheat of today.

This modern wheat is a kind of dwarf wheat that was developed in the 1960s to increase the amount of wheat that could be farmed per acre. Unfortunately, this wheat was also much less nutritious and came with a list of potential problems.

Studies reveal that between 1843 and the mid-1960, the mineral content, including zinc, magnesium, iron, and copper, of harvested wheat grain in the experiment stayed constant. But after that point, zinc, magnesium, iron, and copper concentrations began to decrease – a shift that “coincided with the introduction of semi-dwarf, high-yielding cultivars”. Another study found that the “ancient” kinds of wheat – emmer, spelt, and einkorn – had higher concentrations of selenium, an extremely important mineral, than modern wheat. Further compounding the mineral issue is the fact that phytic acid content remains unaffected in dwarf wheat. Thus, the phytate: mineral ratio is higher, which results in poor absorption of the already reduced minerals contents in dwarf wheat will make the already reduced levels of minerals in dwarf wheat even more unavailable to its consumers.

In other words, while these modern varieties are easier and faster to grow, they don’t contain the same levels of nutrients but have the same levels of phytic acid, creating an imbalance that can lead to nutrient deficiencies. The way we consume grains have changed

Grains and flours we consume today are fundamentally different from the ones our grandparents and ancestors consumed,  our way of preparing them for consumption has also changed. This according to recent studies explains the increasing rates of allergies and digestive intolerance problems with grains.

Earlier in the era, grains were traditionally prepared by different methods like soaking, sprouting and fermenting. Sprouting and fermenting leads to several beneficial effects. It increases the amino acid lysine, reduces anti-nutrients (like phytic acid and lectins), disables enzyme inhibitors and makes nutrients more accessible to the body.

In the name of convenience, we’ve largely stopped using these traditional preparation methods, further reducing the number of nutrients we can obtain from grains and flours and potentially increasing the amount of phytic acid we consume

Enhanced uses of Pesticides

A thorough  look at the changes in grains from the invention of the modern flour mill and the high-yield dwarf varieties cultivated in the 1960s, it does not match up with or explain the drastic rise of grain-related allergies and intolerance in the last two decades… however, the undermentioned causes can be the troublemakers.

Over the years we have seen a gradual increase in the use of pesticides and chemical manures.  The extreme use of chemical on wheat crops in 90’s and beyond has done more damage than ever before. Wheat when exposed to a toxic chemical like glyphosate,  releases more seeds resulting in a slightly greater yield: “It ‘goes to seed’ as it dies. At its last gasp, it releases the seed” says Dr. Seneff, of MIT who studied in-depth the toxicity of wheat and its effect on human body.

The timeline of wheat and gluten-related intolerance matches with the time since wheat crops are being bombarded with glyphosate and other pesticides which may be partial to blame for the rising rates of celiac disease, comparing the increased incidence of celiac with increased glyphosate use.

Other Challenges

Other than the above challenges with modern grains themselves and the way they are cultivated, processed and consumed,  there are several other (possibly inadvertent) effects of our grain consumption.

Too much intake of wheat reduces the intake of other foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, meats and alike.

Refined grains can spike insulin levels, our increased consumption may be partial to blame for the rising rates of diabetes and obesity (though of course, other factors come into play here as well, like sedentary lifestyles etc.).

A vast majority of all processed foods contain wheat, which makes sense because its inexpensive, shelf stable, and easy to manufacture. Unfortunately, we are consuming these foods in higher amounts at the expense of foods like vegetables, healthy proteins, and beneficial fats.

Fewer Nutrients

More grains and less of other foods means that we are also statistically consuming fewer of the varied nutrients found in varied foods.  We already know that modern grains have a diminished nutrient content, to an all-time low and it’s almost impossible to supply body’s need for nutrients from food alone.

Food experts suggest that micronutrient deficiency may be a large contributor to many types of modern disease as we simply aren’t able to obtain enough micro-nutrients from our food supply. As grains are a large part of the modern food supply but a low source of nutrients, they are contributing to this problem.

Our guideline for healthy living

In case some of you suffer from celiac diseases, autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto Hypothyroiditis, food allergies and other general health problems, here are some guidelines you may choose to pick:

• Avoid most grains, especially those that contain gluten.
• Should you wish to consume grains, opt for white rice or properly prepared whole grains such organic Einkorn (soaked, fermented, sprouted, etc.)
• Eat more of vegetables, fresh fruits, nuts, and cold pressed juices. Replace fruits, vegetables, poultry and dairy products with grains, especially wheat. Not only are these substitutes more nutritious, but they also taste better.
• I often bake with grain-free flours like gram flour (besan), coconut flour, rice flour, almond flour,etc., which are higher in protein and fiber.
• Don’t make grains a staple of my diet. I do occasionally consume them but make sure that the core of our family’s diet is a wide variety of vegetables and fruits, healthy proteins and beneficial fats.

Our choice of foods defines our quality of life. Remain judicious in choosing what you eat. Remember it’s a healthy body which makes a difference in our rightful living.

About the Author

Dr. Amitabh Singh is the founder of AadyantaLife and  Bio-Energetic & Crystal Healer and Wellness Coach. He provides Alternative and Complementary Healing therapies to difficult ailments including Cancer. He specializes in Mindfulness Meditation Coaching for Corporate and Business Leaders. His thought-provoking Enlightening Lectures.