Janine's Choice for October: Ancient Grains- Organic Babel Spelt Sourdough Bread

My choice for October is not a skin care product!
It is the most tasty, wholesome bread I have ever tasted! 100% organic, Australian made and Vegan.  This delicious bread is baked in Melbourne by the Ancient Grains Bakehouse. The Ancient Grains Bakery makes wheat alternative breads that are yeast FREE, soy FREE and dairy FREE.
With no added sugar, no preservatives, and a great traditional taste!
100% certified organic flours used in all breads.*

Organic Babel Spelt Sourdough 550gm . Ingredients
This bread contains -Organic wholegrain spelt flour, organic kamut, organic wholegrain spelt sourdough, filtered water, olive oil, sea salt. 

As you can see, this bread is simple and contains no hidden preservatives or sugar. I buy this bread from my local Go Vita Health Food store. If your local health food store does not stock it, ask them to order it in! My store did, and so I am sure any store that is concerned with your health will order it for you. 

Not only does this bread taste amazing it is packed with fibre and wholesome grains.
​Let's take a look at some of these healthy ingredients.

Organic wholegrain Spelt Flour

Image courtesy of https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/cereal/spelt.html

Spelt is one of the oldest cultivated crops in human history and is believed to have first been used between 7,000 and 8,000 years ago. Spelt is a a variety of grain or cereal that is closely related to wheat. In fact, spelt likely developed from a hybridization of emmer wheat and and wild goat-grass. It is closely related to normal “bread” wheat, but the popularity of bread wheat soon made spelt obsolete, which is why it is considered a “relic” crop.1

Nutritional Value of Spelt
Aside from being a very functional and versatile variety of wheat, spelt is also packed with nutrients that many other cereals do not contain. It is high in carbohydrates, as you would expect, but the very high levels of protein (21% of your daily recommended intake) and dietary fiber (30% in a single serving!) are very impressive. On top of those important compounds, spelt also contains significant levels of iron, copper, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, selenium, niacin, thiamin, vitamin B6, and folic acid.

Health Benefits of Spelt
Digestive Health: The very high content of fiber in spelt means that it facilitates healthy digestion in a major way. Dietary fiber helps to bulk up your stool and move food through the digestive tract, speeding up the absorption of nutrients and helping to reduce conditions like constipation, bloating, cramping, excess gas, diarrhea, and more serious gastrointestinal issues like ulcers. Spelt has one of the highest dietary fiber contents of wheat varieties.

Cholesterol: Dietary fiber has a second role in the body, which is to help lower the levels of dangerous cholesterol in the body. Dietary fiber can interact with the cholesterol uptake processes and inhibit the absorption of cholesterol from food. In fact, it can specifically target LDL cholesterol and eliminate it from the body to regulate a healthy balance of fatty acids in the body.

Circulation: The high levels of  iron and copper in spelt combine to significantly boost circulation. Iron and copper are essential for the creation of red blood cells, and when RBC production is up, there is increased blood flow throughout the body, which means additional oxygenation to organs and tissues, increased healing, boosted energy levels, and a more functional metabolism. Increased circulation can even boost hair growth, while the iron content helps the body avoid becoming anemic.

Hormonal Regulation and Creation: Niacin is one of the essential vitamins that can be found in significant quantities in spelt. Niacin plays a key role in the adrenal glands in the body, particularly in the production of sex hormones. The endocrine system is a sensitive and hugely important aspect of our health and general functioning, so maintaining healthy niacin levels by adding spelt to your diet is a wise choice.

Bone Health: Spelt has an impressive range of essential minerals that are necessary for bone health, including zinc, magnesium, copper, phosphorous, and selenium. These minerals contribute to the development of bone tissue and by boosting the levels of these minerals in your body, you can actively prevent osteoporosis and other age-related conditions that weaken or degrade the bones in our body.2

Organic Kamut 

Kamut is an ancient grain, and has been shown to lower LDL Cholesterol.

Scientists at Careggi University Hospital in Florence conducted a randomized crossover study including three eight-week periods: one in which subjects ate their normal diet but with all grain products – bread, crackers, pasta and cookies – made with Kamut® brand Khorasan wheat, a washout period of eight weeks, and eight weeks in which all grain products were made with modern Durum wheat and soft wheat.
The results? Following the Kamut® phase of the study, subjects’ total cholesterol decreased on average 4.0%, their LDL (“bad”) cholesterol decreased 7.8%, and certain markers of inflammation dropped 23 to 36%. At the same time, blood levels of potassium and magnesium – two key minerals many of us are lacking – rose 4.6% and 2.3% respectively. Following the control phase, total cholesterol dropped 2.1% and LDL dropped 2.8%, while potassium and magnesium actually decreased slightly; the three inflammatory markers were mixed with one almost neutral, another dropping 14% and one increasing 15%.

Lab analysis of the Kamut® and control wheat showed that the two products looked fairly similar on paper with similar fiber levels and similar resistant starch levels (though with more potassium and magnesium in the Kamut). And yet the health impacts were different, leading the researchers to conclude that “dietary fibre and resistant starch alone were clearly not instrumental in improving these metabolic parameters.”
I need to  mention some of the limitations of this interesting study. First of all, it was a very small study – just 22 subjects. Second, both the Kamut® semolina and flour, and the control semolina and flour were semi-whole, not 100% whole. 3

To conclude...

I love this bread..I find the taste and texture to be just what I want in a bread and I particularly like the little bit of saltiness that I taste when eating. I like to eat this bread lightly toasted with nothing on it or toasted with a fresh banana sliced over the top. I just think that it is a great tasting, natural and healthy bread! 
So next time you pop into your local health food store, see if they stock it, and if they don't, ask them to order it for you. 

If you have tasted and love this bread or any other from the Ancient Grains range, leave  a comment and let us all know what you think!
​Janine

• https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/cereal/spelt.html 1,2
• http://wholegrainscouncil.org/newsroom/blog/2013/03/health-study-kamut-wheat-vs-modern-wheat 3
• https://www.facebook.com/AncientGrainsBreads/info/?tab=overview*
  

I receive no renumeration or recognition from The Ancient Grains Bakery for this review.