Spelt flour benefits and how to use it

You’ve probably heard of spelt, but perhaps you’re not aware of how beneficial it can be if you include it in your diet, particularly because spelt flour provides carbohydrates, fibre, protein, vitamins B1 B2 and minerals such as magnesium, silicon and zinc. Did you know that?

In this article we would like to explain how to use spelt flour in your diet and the properties that make it a flour to be considered. In fact, we recommend substituting it for wheat flour as far as possible. Do you want to know how? Let’s get started!

What is spelt

Although spelt is similar in appearance to wheat, it is considered an ancient grain and the origin of each and every one of today’s wheat varieties.

Its origins can be traced back almost 7000 years to what is now Iran, Israel and Turkey. As well as being a food, it was also used in drinks such as beer in ancient China.

Spelt flour is a high-energy ingredient, but still provides fewer calories than wheat flour. In addition, it has a high protein content, which is very beneficial for the body. One example is lysine, which is otherwise very scarce in other cereals.

Nutritional benefits

It is interesting to note the presence of minerals such as silicon and magnesium in spelt flour. Eating foods with this ingredient provides these beneficial minerals which, among other functions, improve the elasticity of tissues such as tendons and muscles, and strengthen bones. But it has many other benefits, take a look:

• Source of carbohydrates and proteins. It is a food with a very high energy value. It is therefore recommended for people who need a lot of energy, such as sportsmen and women.
• Contains high nutritional quality proteins that provide 9 essential amino acids.
• Very rich in tryptophan, which promotes mental and emotional well-being.
• It provides minerals such as silicon, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and zinc. All these minerals are very beneficial for bone, muscle, nervous system and blood health.
• It is very rich in soluble fibre.
• It has no cholesterol.

In traditional Chinese medicine, spelt is able to tonify digestion and yin-type energy. It is recommended for patients with diseases related to the liver and digestive system.

Spelt flour, as well as the different presentations of this cereal, is not recommended for coeliacs, as it contains gluten.

What is the difference between spelt flour and wheat flour?

• On the one hand, wheat does not have as high a protein quality as spelt flour. Therefore, it does not supply essential amino acids.
• Spelt flour, on the other hand, is better tolerated by the body, is easy to digest and has anti-inflammatory properties.
• In addition, spelt gluten is more fragile and water-soluble. Wheat gluten is more resistant to industrial processes.
• Finally, spelt flour provides more vitamins and minerals and, although it has less fibre than wheat, as it is soluble it delays the absorption of carbohydrates, so you avoid the insulin peaks that eating normal wheat bread would cause.

How to use spelt flour in your kitchen

Spelt flour is a very versatile ingredient that can be used in the kitchen in the same way as wheat flour. It also has a slight nutty flavour, which makes it very appetising for many people.

It looks great in recipes of:

• Pizza
• Cupcakes
• Bread
• Wraps
• Biscuits
• Use it for breading, in béchamel sauce, to thicken stews…

Other ways to obtain silicon in the form of supplementation

In addition to including spelt flour in your diet, you can obtain silicon by choosing the right supplements. Here are some examples:

• G7 Activ+. Silicon with magnesium in capsules to nourish and strengthen bones and joints.
• Orgono Articomplex, with silicon, magnesium, zinc. It is particularly recommended for sportsmen and women, as it improves sports performance and also improves the body’s recovery after intense exercise.
• G Beauty, with silicon and selenium. Especially recommended for those who want to improve the health of their skin, hair and nails.
• Silicium G7 Original Biodynamic/Siliplant Bio-dynamised liquid silicon to improve your body and which has no side effects.
• Living Silica Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptides/Living Silica Plant-Based Vegan Collagen Booster. In addition to silicon, it provides natural collagen. It is also enriched with vitamin C, biotin and hyaluronic acid. In the case of plant-based silica and collagen, the collagen amino acids come from plants such as pea, acacia gum and bamboo.

As you can see, there are many options for obtaining silicon naturally, including all the recipes you can cook with spelt flour. Have you tried it yet?