Ancient Grains for Modern gains - By Connor Bradbury

Whole Grains are an essential part of a healthy and nutritionally balanced diet yet many people tend to stick with the traditional types such as wheat and brown rice. There is a whole category of grains that are alien to most and very rarely used in most western cuisines.   This classification of whole grains goes by the name ancient grains and there is an abundant amount of types.  The term ancient grain is not scientific but it has come to mean any grain that has not change or evolved significantly in recent history, making it the same as it was hundreds if not thousands of years ago.  Ancient Grains are abundant in places where ancient societies once lived such as the Peru where quinoa is from.  Many ancient societies and people relied of these kind of grains for their livelihood and health and it is no wonder why they believed they were so good for the body.  There are so many different reasons why people may want to and should try to incorporate ancient grains into their diet.  ​​

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For anyone who is interested in whole grains that are gluten free there are options like Amaranth, Millet, Sorghum and many others that have huge health benefits as well as giving people a variety of options to make their cuisine more adventurous. Gluten-free options are really becoming important in modern times for those who are trying to alter their diets and especially for those who must do so for their health.  Ancient grains are a great way for people who have strict dietary regulations to get many of the important things they need to keep their body running smoothly.  Another amazing characteristic of these ancient grains is that they are all packed with protein.  All of the grains in this category have at least some protein but some are jam packed with them.  The fact that these grains are packed with protein makes them a great alternative to meat products which is pretty cool.  With so many people going vegan, vegetarian, or just limiting meat consumption for other reasons a group of diverse alternatives.  
​Some ancient grains that are high in proteins are Freekeh, Teff, Sorghum and Kamut.

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The best part about ancient grains is that they have so many different nutritious components that bring good numbers of fats, protein and carbs to the table as well as providing plenty of vitamins and minerals.  Mixing these grains together gives you even more possibilities and brings lots of good health benefits along with them.  Ancient grains are known to promote heart health and digestive health and are believed to help prolong life when consumed regularly.  There is no magic food that will instantly make you healthier, but adding ancient grains to your diet will certainly do more good than bad. Whether or not you’ve heard of them or had them before I would recommend giving ancient grains a shot as they could add a lot of variety, health benefits and flavor to your diet.

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References
​Godman, H. (2016, June 29). The whole grain goodness of modern and ancient grains. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/ancient-vs-modern-grains-theyre-good-201606299876.
Raman, R. (n.d.). Healthline Nutrition 12 Ancient Grains. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition.
Whole Grains Council . (n.d.). Ancient Grains. Retrieved from https://wholegrainscouncil.org/whole-grains-101/whats-whole-grain/ancient-grains.