• Online Scheduling | Careers

Mat-Su Regional Medical Center
  • Quick Links
    • Find a Doctor
    • Services
      • Services

        • View All Services
        • Behavioral Health
        • Critical Care Medicine
        • Diabetes Care
        • Diagnostic Imaging
        • Digestive Health
        • Emergency Services
        • Heart Care
        • Hospice
        • Infusion Services
        • Joint Replacement
        • Laboratory Services
        • Maternity Care
        • Neurology
        • Nutrition Services
        • Orthopedic Services
        • Pediatric Care
        • Pharmacy
        • Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
        • Rehabilitation Services
        • Sleep Disorders Center
        • Stroke Care
        • Surgical Services
        • Urgent Care
        • Women's Health
        • Wound Care
          • Patients & Visitors
            • For Patients

              • Patients & Visitors
              • Admissions
              • Cafeteria Information
              • Community Resources
              • DAISY Award Nominations
              • Directions
              • Events
              • Financial Information
              • Going Home
              • Health Library
              • Online Scheduling
              • Patient Portal
              • Request Medical Records
              • Spiritual Care
              • Your Stay
                • Careers
                • Locations
                  • Hospitals
                  • Mat-Su Medical Group
                  • Rehabilitation Centers
                  • Urgent Care
                  • Other Locations
                • About
                  • About

                    • About Us
                    • Awards & Accreditations
                    • Board of Directors
                    • Board of Trustees
                    • Careers
                    • Community Benefits
                    • Contact Us
                    • Newsroom
                    • Phone Directory
                    • Quality & Safety
                    • Senior Circle
                    • Volunteer Opportunities
                      • (907) 861-6000
                      • Online Scheduling
                      • Online Bill Pay
                      • Patient Portal
                      • Events
                      • Contact
                      • analog clock icon
                      • Avg ER Wait:
                        5 Min

                        About ER Wait Times
                      Home/Patients & Visitors/Health Library/Ancient Grains Instead of Wheat

                      Refine Results

                      About Us
                      eNewsletter Redirect
                      Events
                      Events
                      Find a Doctor
                      Locations
                      Notice of Non-Discrimination
                      Patients & Visitors
                      Admissions
                      Cafeteria Information
                      Community Resources
                      DAISY Award Nominations
                      Directions
                      Events
                      Financial Information
                      Billing & Insurance
                      Billing & Registration FAQ
                      Eligibility Services
                      Medicare
                      Online Bill Pay
                      Patient Protections Against Surprise Billing
                      Price Information
                      Your Right to a Good Faith Estimate
                      Going Home
                      Health Library
                      Online Scheduling
                      Online Check-In FAQ
                      Patient Portal
                      Patient Portal FAQ
                      Request Medical Records
                      Spiritual Care
                      Your Stay
                      Services
                      • information
                      • news
                      • Avg ER Wait:
                        5 Min

                        About ER Wait Times
                      • Directions

                        Find Our Location
                      • American Association of Critical-Care Nurses recognizes Intensive Care Unit at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center with Silver Beacon Award for Excellence

                        05.19.2025

                      • Mat-Su Regional Medical Center Earns an "A" Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group

                        05.01.2025

                      • See All News & Press Releases
                      • Sign Up For Our E-Newsletter

                        Sign Up For Our E-Newsletter

                        Featuring a monthly dose of information and inspiration for living well.

                        Learn More
                      • Mobile Device

                        Online Scheduling

                        Free, convenient online check-in services.

                        Learn More
                      • Nurse and Patient

                        Patient Portal

                        Access your medical information
                        on demand.

                        Learn More

                      Ancient Grains Instead of Wheat

                      According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there was enough wheat flour in 2019 for each American citizen to consume 131.1 pounds each. But in a world where we're concerned about gluten and brown grains versus white grains, are the modern forms of these foods better?

                      Modern grains, like wheat, corn and rice, have been processed, hybridized and genetically modified. Don't be concerned about the name—ancient grains aren't foods that have stayed in your pantry too long. Instead, the name is a marketing term for grains and seeds unchanged by manufacturing methods for thousands of years.

                      Harvard dietitians claim ancient grains pack more of a nutritional punch than modern counterparts because it's filled with protein, fiber and vitamins. You can purchase many ancient grains online and at your local natural food and upscale grocery stores. Some of those foods include black barley, black rice and millet, but here are a few ancient grains that are making a comeback:

                      The Scoop on Amaranth
                      The scoop: A native crop of Peru, one cup of cooked amaranth contains more calcium than one cup of cooked spinach. According to the Whole Grains Council, Amaranth is also high in protein, iron, magnesium and potassium. Known for its nutty and peppery flavors, you can pop amaranth like stovetop popcorn, add cooked amaranth to salads and soups or use amaranth flour in cookies.

                      The Scoop on Quinoa
                      The scoop: According to the National Library of Medicine, quinoa has been around 7,000 years and hails from the Andes. There are thousands of varieties, but all are high in antioxidants. The Molecular Nutrition & Food Research journal links the ancient grain to reduced diabetes risk and improved blood sugar. You can use quinoa as a side dish as you would with rice.

                      The Scoop on Spelt
                      The scoop: Spelt is a form of wheat that fell out of favor because it isn't as easy to cultivate. Spelt is a good source of dietary fiber and contains more protein than traditional wheat. In most recipes, you can use whole spelt flour in place of wheat.

                      The Scoop on Teff
                      The scoop: A crop that can survive in nearly all weather conditions, teff is native to Ethiopia. The grain is known for its sweet flavor and is rich in calcium, protein, vitamin B6, zinc and fiber. Add teff to stew, use it to top salads or make hot cereal.

                      For Those With Celiac Disease

                      People with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes weight loss, gastrointestinal symptoms and eventual damage to the small intestine, must eat a strict diet that does not include gluten, a protein found in wheat. Many ancient grains are naturally gluten-free. In fact, some of the most popular ancient grains aren't technically grains. Quinoa and amaranth are seeds, or pseudocereals, and share the same nutrient profiles as whole grains. When searching for gluten-free options, watch for products made with quinoa, amaranth, teff, sorghum, millet and buckwheat.

                      Avoid ancient grains related to wheat or contain gluten, including spelt, wheat berries, farro, Freekah and Kamut. Some people believe these grains are safer for people with celiac disease than modern wheat, but a strict gluten-free diet is the only treatment for celiac disease.

                      Want More Health Tips?

                      Sign up for our e-newsletter, Live Healthy, to receive a monthly dose of information and inspiration for living well.

                      Back

                      Mat-Su Regional Medical Center

                      • 2500 South Woodworth Loop
                      • Palmer, AK 99645
                      • P: (907) 861-6000
                      • F: (907) 861-6559

                      • ADA Accessibility Policy
                      • Terms & Conditions
                      • Privacy Policy
                      • Change Your Privacy Choices
                      • Notice of Privacy Practices
                      • Patient Rights & Responsibilities
                      • Price Transparency

                      Copyright ©2025. All rights reserved.

                      An AllianceHealth Oklahoma® hospital

                      Services

                      • Behavioral Health
                      • Critical Care Medicine
                      • Diabetes Care
                      • Diagnostic Imaging
                      • Digestive Health
                      • Emergency Services
                      • Heart Care
                      • Hospice
                      • Infusion Services
                      • Joint Replacement
                      • Laboratory Services
                      • Maternity Care
                      • Neurology
                      • Nutrition Services
                      • Orthopedic Services
                      • Pediatric Care
                      • Pharmacy
                      • Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
                      • Rehabilitation Services
                      • Sleep Disorders Center
                      • Stroke Care
                      • Surgical Services
                      • Urgent Care
                      • Women's Health
                      • Wound Care

                      Patients & Visitors

                      • Admissions
                      • Cafeteria Information
                      • Community Resources
                      • DAISY Award Nominations
                      • Directions
                      • Events
                      • Financial Information
                      • Going Home
                      • Health Library
                      • Online Scheduling
                      • Patient Portal
                      • Request Medical Records
                      • Spiritual Care
                      • Your Stay

                      About Us

                      • Awards & Accreditations
                      • Board of Directors
                      • Board of Trustees
                      • Careers
                      • Community Benefits
                      • Contact Us
                      • Newsroom
                      • Phone Directory
                      • Quality & Safety
                      • Senior Circle
                      • Volunteer Opportunities

                      Notice of Nondiscrimination
                      • English,
                      • አማርኛ,
                      • العربية,
                      • বাংলা,
                      • ျမန္မာဘာသာ,
                      • tsalagi gawonihisdi,
                      • 繁體中文,
                      • Chahta,
                      • Oroomiffa,
                      • Nederlands,
                      • Français,
                      • Kreyòl Ayisyen,
                      • Deutsch,
                      • ગુજરાતી,
                      • हिंदी,
                      • Hmoob,
                      • Igbo asusu,
                      • Ilokano,
                      • Italiano,
                      • 日本語,
                      • 한국어,
                      • Ɓàsɔ́ɔ̀‑wùɖù‑po‑nyɔ̀,
                      • ພາສາລາວ,
                      • Kajin Ṃajōḷ,
                      • ខ្មែរ,
                      • Diné Bizaad,
                      • नेपाली,
                      • Deitsch,
                      • فارسی,
                      • Polski,
                      • Português,
                      • ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
                      • Română,
                      • Русский,
                      • Gagana fa'a Sāmoa,
                      • Srpsko‑hrvatski,
                      • Español,
                      • ܣܘܼܪܸܬ݂,
                      • Tagalog,
                      • ภาษาไทย,
                      • Türkçe,
                      • Українська,
                      • اُردُو,
                      • Tiếng Việt,
                      • èdè Yorùbá,
                      • עִברִית
                      Loading... Loading...