Spelt has high water solubility, so the nutrients are easily absorbed by the body. Spelt contains special carbohydrates which are an important factor in blood clotting and stimulating the body's immune system. It is also a superb fiber resource and has large amounts of B-complex vitamins. Total protein content is from 10 to 25% greater than the common varieties of commercial wheat.
You normally have to buy Amaranth at health food stores. They make some excellent cereals. Here is a study done admittedly on rats, but they are used in these studies due to similar digestive systems.
Background/Aims: Lipid disorders may exacerbate some complications of diabetes. Amaranth has been reported to exhibit a cholesterol-lowering effect in hyperlipidemic animals. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of amaranth on serum glucose and the lipid profile in diabetic rats. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to normal control, diabetic control, diabetic amaranth-grain (AG)-supplemented (500 g/kg diet) and diabetic amaranth-oil (AO)-supplemented (90 g/kg diet) groups and fed experimental diets for 3 weeks. Effects were monitored on glucose tolerance, serum and liver lipids, and fecal excretions of lipids and bile acids. Results: Fasting serum glucose levels and the glucose tolerance of diabetic rats were improved by AG and AO supplementation. Serum and liver lipids such as total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG) and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were also lowered in diabetic animals by AG and AO consumption. Fecal excretions of cholesterol, TG and bile acid were markedly reduced in diabetic rats, and these parameters were dramatically increased by AG and AO supplementation. Conclusion: AG and AO supplementation improve the glucose and lipid metabolism in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
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