Reference Number: 160
Year: 2014
Link: Link to original paper
Health: Blood pressure | Cancer | Heart Disease
Nutrition: Antioxidants | Bioactive peptides | Fibre | Gluten>gliadin | Minerals | Polyphenols | Vitamins
Summary
Abstract
The hulled wheat einkorn (Triticum monococcum L. ssp. monococcum), a staple food of early farmers for many thousand years, today is cropped only in small areas of the Mediterranean region and continental Europe. Increasing attention to the nutritional quality of foods has fostered renewed interest in this low-impact crop. The reappraisal of einkorn quality evidenced that this ancient wheat has some dietary advantages over polyploid wheats. Einkorn wholemeal is poor in dietary fibre but rich in proteins, lipids (mostly unsaturated fatty acids), fructans and trace elements (including zinc and iron). The good concentration of several antioxidant compounds (carotenoids, tocols, conjugated polyphenols, alkylresorcinols and phytosterols) and low ?-amylase and lipoxygenase activities (which limit antioxidant degradation during food processing) contribute to the excellent nutritional properties of its flour, superior to those of other wheats. Conversely, einkorn has relatively low bound polyphenol content and high polyphenol oxidase activity. In spite of eliciting weaker toxic reactions than other Triticum species, einkorn is not suitable for coeliacs. Current trends towards the consumption of functional foods suggest that this cereal may still play a significant role in human consumption, especially in the development of new or special foods with superior nutritional quality.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS STUDY
The aim of the study was to analyse the nutritional content of einkorn wheat (T. monococcum). The results showed that, compared with other varieties of wheat such as durum (T. durum) and bread wheats (T. aestivum), einkorn kernels have higher protein, antioxidant (carotenoids and tocols), fructans and monounsaturated fatty acids content. Carotenoids and tocols have an important role protecting cell membranes and tissues from free radicals, hence preventing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Einkorn is also considered a good source of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), with high concentrations of folate, zinc, iron, phosphorous, copper, magnesium, and selenium. This is a key benefit as micronutrients deficiency can cause several health problems such as impairment of the immune system, disturbed physical growth and mental and cognitive development, and increased rates of anaemia.
On the other hand, einkorn has lower dietary fibre and similar polyphenol content in comparison with bread wheat.
You can read more about the flavour profile of Enikorn in sourdough loaf here.