Is Kamut® Wheat More Healthy Than Conventional Wheat?

Types of wheat.

There are many varieties of wheat but they all belong to the genus Triticum. From there the different varieties are defined by the number of chromosomes the plant has.
Diploid wheat is the earliest form of cultivated wheat with 14 chromosomes. This form of wheat has been found in ancient tombs and dates back at least 4,000 years.

Tetraploid wheat contains 28 chromosomes. Ancient wheat varieties like Khorasan and Emmer are Tetraploid as are modern varieties like Durum which is mostly used for pasta. Kamut® is a trademarked variety of Tetraploid wheat.

The most common types of wheat produced today are Hexaploid varieties. Hexaploid wheat contains 42 chromosomes. They are typically used for bread and cookies and the like.

Kamut® wheat, also known as Khorasan Wheat, is an heirloom wheat that originated in the 'Fertile Crescent' (an area that stretches from the Nile Valley into Western Asia. It is used similarly to modern wheat and can be consumed directly or milled into flour and used for anything from baking to production of beer. It has a nutty, buttery flavor and has less tannin so it is less bitter than modern wheat.
History of Kamut®.

According to legend, seeds were found in the tomb of an Egyptian Pharaoh. That is why it is often called 'King Tut's Wheat'. It was originally introduced to the United States by an American airman, who sent grains from Egypt to his family in Montana in 1949. Kamut® did not gain momentum as a commercial crop so it fell into disuse. Then, in 1977, Mack and Bob Quinn, two farmers from Montana, decided to cultivate this ancient grain. In 1990, they registered the protected cultivated turanicum variety QK-77 as the trademark Kamut®.

Health benefits to Kamut® vs. modern wheat.
Many people have regarded Kamut® as being healthier than modern wheat. It has traditionally been sold at health food stores but is now gaining much wider acceptance.

Studies have shown that Kamut® wheat is higher in protein than modern wheat. It is also higher in trace minerals such as selenium, magnesium, and zinc. In addition Kamut® is also higher in lipids which produce more energy in the body than carbohydrates.

Kamut® has been shown to be better tolerated by individuals with allergies to wheat products and may be a better choice for people with diabetes due to it's low glycemic index.
The importance of a Trademark.

Kamut® is not a type of wheat, it is a protected trademark that signifies a specific variety. When consumers purchase products that contain Kamut® wheat they are assured that it is in fact the heirloom plant that possesses the benefits previously described. In addition, any farmer who grows the Kamut® brand wheat promises to adhere to certain guidelines including; that it is the ancient Khorasan wheat variety and that it is produced as a certified organic grain.

More information available at www.ecospreeliving.com