Reading in childhood A.S. Pushkin's "Tale of the Priest and his Worker Balda" many probably paid attention to an unfamiliar dish - "boiled spelled", which Balda demanded as payment for his work. Today, not many people know about spelled. However, products from this undeservedly forgotten grain crop began to appear on store shelves, and nutritionists were vigorously discussing what benefit and harm could be gained from spelling. Therefore, it is worth exploring in more detail what exactly is “spelled” and what it is eaten with.

Brief historical background

Spelled is one of 27 varieties of wheat. This ancestress of modern soft wheat fed peasants of Russia during the time of Pushkin. But information about the spelled goes far back centuries.

When excavating sites of the Neolithic times, archaeologists find spelled grains, which our ancestors cultivated and consumed in vast territories with different climates. In the Stone Age, spelled was cultivated in Germany, in the Iron Age in Italy and Switzerland. In ancient Egypt, the grains of this cereal accompanied the pharaohs on a journey into the afterlife. The civilizations of Babylon and the Sumerians considered spelling to be the main source of nutrients, and was used in the daily diet.

In Russia, the spelled occupied a leading place among cereals until the XVII-XIX centuries. And in the territory that Russia now occupies, spelled was cultivated from the 5th century. BC e. The areas occupied by the spelled fields spread from sultry Africa to cold Scandinavia. It was cultivated in mountainous areas.

Even before the middle of the XIX century, this grain crop was more popular than ordinary wheat.Spelled is unpretentious to the quality and composition of the soil, withstands harsh climate conditions, is resistant to lodging. Spelled grains are less susceptible to damage by the fungus, are stored longer and have a pleasant nutty flavor. But due to the fact that when grinding is impossible to separate the grains from flower films and scales, preference was given to the cultivation of bare-grain wheat varieties.

Up to the 80s of the 20th century, scientists-breeders and enthusiasts-plant breeders remembered the spelled. In isolated areas of the Old World isolated from the influence of civilization, spelled continued to grow representatives of peoples who had preserved their own culture and customs.

But by the end of the last century, nutritionists were talking about spelled. The benefits and harms of spelled have been studied not only by supporters of wholesome nutrition, but also by physicians, physiologists, and biologists.

Spelled - benefits and harm to the body

The great Russian scientist-breeder, geneticist and botanist N. I. Vavilov called the spelled “black caviar of cereals”. In spelled grain, nutrients are evenly distributed throughout the volume, so that it retains its unique properties even after removal of films, cleaning and the finest grinding.

Read also:spelled - what is it

Spelled contains 13-17% protein, which is 30-40% higher than its amount in modern wheat varieties. Spelled protein (this is another name for spelled) is distinguished by a high degree of digestibility. This figure is 80%.

Also in spelled is higher than in wheat content:

  • gland;
  • protein;
  • B vitamins

The quality of gluten (gluten) in spelled is higher than in wheat, which not only determined the best taste of grain products, but also due to the average (45) glycemic index, spelled products are useful for diabetics, overweight people, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. For comparison, the GI of wheat flour is 69. In addition, bread made from spelled flour does not become stale or moldy for a long time.

Fats contained in spelled grains are more valuable than in ordinary wheat. The high content of unsaturated fatty acids (2 times more) determined the value of spelled for maintaining healthy heart and circulatory system.

There are more than 20 types of phytosterol in spelled grains - a substance similar in function to cholesterol and found only in plants. Phytosterol reduces the level of "bad" cholesterol, prevents its deposition in the form of insoluble plaques in the blood vessels. Scientists have found that consuming 2-3 g of phytosterol daily for a month reduces the level of "bad" cholesterol by 10 times. Therefore, nutritionists are advised to use spelled products for older people and those who have high cholesterol.

In addition, phytosterol is able to protect the human body from malignant diseases - cancer of the ovaries, breast, stomach and lungs. For the fair sex porridge from spelled is also of interest. Its regular use stimulates the synthesis of its own collagen and elastin in the skin, which causes its regeneration, preserves the contours of the face and figure, and slows down the aging process.

The lack of phytosterols in the body leads to:

  • hormonal imbalance and malfunctions in the reproductive, endocrine system;
  • decreased function of the respiratory and digestive systems;
  • decreased immunity.

The quantitative composition of amino acids in spelled is also unique. According to studies by J. Wagey, spelled grains contain 20-60% more amino acids than wheat, with the exception of arginine.

The high lysine content determined the beneficial properties of spelled for:

  • assimilation and accumulation of calcium;
  • restoration of tissue of bones and joints;
  • synthesis of antibodies, hormones and enzymes.

American scientists have found that lysine increases protein production, which:

  • improves the ability to concentrate and assimilate new material;
  • increases the amount of memory;
  • prevents the development of chronic fatigue syndrome;
  • reduces the risk of developing eye vessel diseases;
  • improves the structure of hair and nails;
  • protects against pathologies of the genital area;
  • excludes the development of anemia;
  • eliminates depression, irritability.

Spelled contains a greater amount of B vitamins (B1, B2, B3), as well as A, E, D. Moreover, the activity of vitamin E is 1/3 higher than in wheat.

There are many trace elements in spelled grains - phosphorus, cobalt, iron, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper.

Not only the composition of grains is of great importance in nutrition, but also its structure. Tight-fitting flakes, which create difficulties when processing seeds, protect the grain from ingestion:

  • heavy metals;
  • radioactive and carcinogenic substances;
  • pathogenic microorganisms.

Another advantage of spelled is the ability to use it for food at different stages of maturity. Flour, cereals, pasta, bread, cookies, waffles, beer, alcohol, vodka are prepared from fully ripened grain. Sauces, dressings for soups are prepared from grain in the wax ripeness stage, added to cutlets, puddings, yoghurts.

In Wales (UK), one of the bakeries produces "Bread of Heaven." Bread made from spelled flour is four times more expensive than wheat. This name, according to the owners of the bakery, is due to the fact that the bread from the spelled was on the table during the Last Supper.

The only contraindication to eating spelled dishes is celiac disease. However, with partial intolerance to gluten, spelled is preferable to wheat, since it has less gluten.

Useful properties of cereals for weight loss

Croup spelled is recommended by nutritionists in clinical nutrition and to maintain ideal weight. Calorie spelled is only 127 kcal per 100 g of product. Carbohydrates, which make up a small part of the grain, are represented by the so-called “slow” carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are absorbed more slowly than simple (“fast”) carbohydrates and energy is produced in “portions” during their metabolism. Thus, saturation occurs with a smaller volume of the product and the feeling of satiety lasts longer.

In addition, spelled has an average glycemic index, which allows you to keep the glucose level normal, prevents the deposition of energetically saturated substances in fatty tissue.

There are a lot of fiber in the spelled grains, without which intestinal motility is not intense enough, and undigested residues remain in the intestine for a long time, where they rot and ferment.

Nutritionists recommend eating porridge from spelled groats for breakfast, then when the digestion process is just beginning and the energy released when digesting a serving is enough for the whole day.

The course of applying spelled for weight loss is 5-7 days. Spelled porridge is cooked without salt and adding oil. Soups - on vegetable broth. Before eating, it is recommended to drink a glass of water.

Application in cosmetology

Every woman has in her arsenal proven effective recipes of beauty. They can be supplemented with home remedies from spelled.

Fine grits can be used as a natural exfoliating agent.

  1. For dry skin: Mix 1 cup of spelled groats No. 5 with 1 peeled sour apple and 1 tbsp. Peeled through a meat grinder l cream. The product is applied to the cleansed face, gently distributed and massaged in a circular motion. Withstand 10-15 minutes and rinse. A scrub is prepared immediately before application.
  2. To cleanse oily skin. Spelled No. 5 steamed with boiling water. Allow to cool slightly and add alcohol, bringing the mass to the consistency of thick sour cream. On a cleaned face, apply a soft scrub with a cosmetic brush, cover with a fabric mask and hold until dry. Wash off with warm water. Rinse your face with a decoction of chamomile or mint.
  3. From boils, rashes and eels. The bread crumb from spelled is soaked in a mixture of hot milk with honey and the resulting slurry is applied in a thick layer to problem areas, covered with parchment and insulated. This compress contributes to the rapid maturation and purification of abscesses.
  4. Mask for fading dry and normal skin. 2 tbspmix the whipped yolk with beaten egg yolk 1 egg and add 1 tsp. liquid honey, 1 tsp olive oil. The resulting pasty mass is applied to a cleaned face. Hold for 10-15 minutes. Wash off with warm water.

Thanks to its unique vitamin and mineral composition, spelled rejuvenates the skin of the face. With the regular use of masks and scrubs from spelled, the skin becomes clean, supple, the oval of the face is restored, small wrinkles disappear. The complexion is leveled, dilated vessels, redness and peeling disappear. Due to the increase in the barrier properties of the skin, it is less exposed to pathogenic microorganisms.

Groats spelled: cooking recipes

In different countries spelled has its own names.

Therefore, in stores you can find bags of cereals called:

  • spelled;
  • Kamut;
  • emmer;
  • two-grain.

This is the same grits. Not only cereals, bread and pasta are prepared from spelled. Sauces and puddings, low-calorie desserts are prepared from spelled in Europe. But in old Russian cuisine there are no less interesting and delicious recipes for spelled dishes.

Cooking porridge - a step by step recipe

For porridge "old Russian" take:

  • spelled porridge - 1 tbsp;
  • yogurt - ½ tbsp;
  • cold water - 2 tbsp;
  • milk - ½ tbsp;
  • salt, sugar - to taste;
  • butter - 1 tbsp. l

Rinse the porridge with water and pour in a mixture of yogurt and 1 tbsp. water. Allow the croup to swell for 5-6 hours. Excess fluid must be drained. Pour 1 tbsp into the pan. water and ½ tbsp. milk, lay the prepared cereals and cook over low heat. When the liquid boils, put salt, sugar and butter in the finished dish. Mix. Wrap the capacity and allow to distance 1-1.5 hours. The finished dish is as an independent or adding fresh berries and slices of fruit.

How to cook in a slow cooker?

Before laying in the teflon bowl of the multicooker, the whipped porridge is washed with running water. Pour the cereal with water at the rate of 1: 3. Set the regime "Grain - Rice" and cook for 30-35 minutes. Salt ready porridge, add oil and herbs. In a slow cooker you get delicious porridge from spelled with vegetables or mushrooms.

Spelled pasta garnished

Spelled pasta is released in the form of horns, feathers, spirals. The required amount of pasta is poured into salted boiling water and boiled for 7-10 minutes. Finished products are filtered, washed, add oil, herbs. You can sprinkle grated cheese on top of the finished dish.

Meat porridge recipe

Spelled porridge has a mild taste of its own, so it goes well with any meat and vegetables, highlighting their taste.

For porridge with meat take:

  • spelled - 100 g;
  • pork with fat - 50 g;
  • onion -1 pc.;
  • carrots - 1 pc.;
  • salt, pepper - to taste;
  • water - 200 ml;
  • greenery.

Rinse groats under running water, add water and simmer over low heat until cooked. Meanwhile, prepare the prepared meat into pieces, fry and set aside in a plate. On melted fat, fry finely chopped onions and grated carrots. Put everything in a saucepan with porridge, mix, salt, pepper and simmer under the lid until cooked. Wrap up. Let stand for 30-60 minutes. Before serving, garnish the dish with fresh chopped herbs.

Spelled in any form not only preserves all the useful substances, but is also grown without fertilizing, processing drugs with pests. Therefore, spelled products are not only tasty, but also environmentally friendly.

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