WHEAT BERRIES

Wheat berries are a good food to have on hand at all times. They are readily made into delicious breads, as well as sprouted and boiled into delectable dishes with vegetables and herbs.

Wheat berries are the grains most widely used in America, in the form of wheat breads. The caveat being that here, the germ and bran are removed and along with it, a lot of vitamins, minerals and healthy oils such as vitamin E and omega 6.

Many people believe they are eating healthier when they buy packaged that claim "whole grain" or "multi grain", but due to loose regulations, companies are allowed to make their own whole grain claims without giving indications of what amount of whole grain is in the products you buy. If it says whole grain on the package, is it 100% or 5%. Most often, it doesn't say.

The health benefits of eating whole grains are numerous. The strongest evidence for eating whole grains is for cardiovascular disease. Numerous studies have shown that people who eat more whole grains have a lower risk for heart attack. Here is a partial list of what has been shown to be benefits of consuming whole grains:

Lowers the bad LDL cholesterol.
Improve insulin metabolism
Rich in antioxidants
Improves bowel function & reduces the risk of colon cancer
People who consuming whole grains gain less weight (Because it's so nutritious & fillling!)

How do you cook with whole wheat berries?

Wheat berries are very versatile. Here are some ways they can be made into delicious, nutritious meals:

Sprouting
Juicing
Boiling
Drying
Cracked Wheat

Soaking wheat berries will leach some nutrients from the berries. It seems like a good idea to soak the first batch in tap or mineral/vitamin water and save the water to use for the next batch.  Many people drink the soak water or use it to make something else. Don't let them grow very long because that makes them very chewy! Just let them grow to be about the size of the berry itself.  They will be sweet, earthy and delicious.