Can I use Spelt wheat as a substitute for Emmer wheat?

[aneesh84]

I am in portugal. Do you think Spelt wheat can be a good substitute?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spelt

[narasimhan2003]

You mean spit wheat, i.e. lapsi? If so, surely you can.

N.Narasimhan

[patliputra]

Emmer is tetraploid while spelt is Hexappoid wheat.So in a sense spelt is hybrid of emmer.There is a lot of similarities in both.Difference appears to be in the type of carb.In spelt it is simple and easily digestible, while in emmer it is complex, that why it does not spike sugar.Secondly spelt contains appreciable amount of gluten May cause coeliac disease.

Question is are you a diabetic?

[aneesh84 in reply to patliputra]

Thank you for the explanation. I am 30 years old and was diagnosed with diabetes 1 month ago. Fasting sugar 311. Since then I gave up sugar and carbs and took up a diet based on veggies, meat, fish and exercise everyday. Now my fasting is around 100-100 mg/dl and after food (1 hour) goes upto 125 and then comes back close to 100. I dont eat anything that can spike up my sugars. Thats why i have usually avoided carbohydrates. But I read about the benefits of emmer. I must search in health stores. I believe it is more commonly available in Italy but harder to find in Portugal. any advise is welcome.

[norreal in reply to aneesh84]

aneesh84: I do not get the Kolkata wheat in our area but we mix 3 parts of barley flour (jou ka aata) with 7 parts of whole wheat flour because my wife read some where it improves glycemic index and load. GeorgeShooter and medfree may be able to advise. One contributor on this forum wrote that s/he takes bajra roti instead of whole wheat to keep BS spikes on the low side. Friends tell me that oat (jaiye ka atta) may have benefits comparable to long grain...again GeorgeShooter and medfree please help us [e-mail]

[aneesh84]

That is what I have been doing. But I thought of giving emmer a try. But how many people have found success with emmer wheat?

[patliputra]

Emmer is known as Farro or hulled wheat in Itali.In Portugal it is called de farro.Thought it might help.

On this forum a number of people are taking this wheat and reporting improvement in their blood sugar control.