Many people are trying to go entirely grain-free to lead a healthy life. Especially people who are on low-carb diets or keto diets, but somehow a blanket ban should not be the order of the day, as nutritious grains can be greatly beneficial for your health. Grains, especially super grains, are great for your health. Also, not only are they great for your health but great for your environment too. It is important to diversify your diet to get the best of both worlds; taste and health.
Amaranth
Amaranth is a great ancient grain out there. The Aztecs cultivated them between 6,000 and 8,000 years ago! It is a nutritional powerhouse. The tiny seed can also be a great source of plant protein, with as much as 9 grams of protein per cup.
If you are a vegetarian and trying to increase your amino acid intake, don’t go beyond this grain with an impressive amino acid profile. It is an excellent source of calcium, iron, and it has an impressive amount of fiber, three times more than fiber. It can help fight obesity and malnutrition in equal measure.
Millet
Millet may be one of the star ingredients of birdseed, but it’s not just a great grain for the birds but also humans since it is rich in nutrients that you may not find in some of the other grains. It is a resilient crop that requires a short growing season. And that was key in changing the Chinese and Mongolian nomads circa 5400 BCE into settled farmers.
It is non-glutinous acid-free millets that are a good source of nutrients. It is rich in copper, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, etc., that one needs for a healthy life. A balanced diet containing millets has great nutritional properties that can help in heart problems, type 2 diabetes, and more.
Farro
Nigella Lawson loves farro, and there may be a reason for it. It’s not only Nigella who loves farro, but everyone loves farro as it is delicious. It’s nutty, hearty, and is easy to cook to perfection.
Another name for farro is emmer. Unlike the other grains in this list, farro is not completely gluten-free, but it is a great source of plant-based protein, and it’s high in magnesium, one of the all-important minerals that most people are deficient in.
Farro finds its place in many fancy dishes served at various restaurants. Farro is everywhere and is easy to add to many dishes. You can cook it, have it in salad form or have it any way you want, so enjoy your farro anyway you want. Make sure you add to your diet regularly.
Teff
Teff has reached the super status, too. This poppy-like seed is rich in calcium. Just one cup of cooked Teff contains as much as 347mg of calcium. Thus Teff is a good choice for vegans and people who are lactose intolerant. It can grow quickly too and is also high on the sustainability scale. Just 1lb of Teff can produce one ton of grain in 12 weeks, and it can beat the rest of the grains on a speed and efficiency scale.
Teff as a crop dates back to Abyssinia and Ethiopia. It plays a distinctive role in history as it is one of the first plants that people domesticated. It remains a staple of the Ethiopian diet, and one of the top dishes containing teff is spongy injera.
Teff can be compared to the now ubiquitous quinoa, so it may not be particularly cheap, but it scores with its versatility. It can mostly be eaten as a porridge. While restaurateurs and chefs are not putting teff on their menus anytime soon, you can add this seed grain to your breakfast to get the best out of it.
So vary your diet and include more of these versatile diets to reap off many of its benefits. Most of these grains are not very pricey. Thus making it easy to switch your diet without burning a hole in your pocket. Have it any way you want. The bottom line is just making this part of your regular diet and giving you a passport to great health and fitness. But before you make major dietary changes, do not forget to talk to your doctor!