Angelina Jolie and the ancient grains diet
Recent images of Angelina Jolie in the media have spurred reports the 5’8″, 39-year-old actress is extremely underweight for her body build, and rumors have…
Angelina Jolie following the ancient grain diet. (Shutterstock)
Recent images of Angelina Jolie in the media have spurred reports the 5’8″, 39-year-old actress is extremely underweight for her body build, and rumors have it the cause is something called the ancient grains diet.
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What does that mean?
According to a report from News24, it means that the Tomb Raider star is consuming little else aside from ancient grains, or those grains that have been around, unchanged, for centuries. Examples include: amaranth, quinoa, millet, chia seeds, kamut, spelt and buckwheat.
“Angies always been a fan of healthy seeds and grains, but lately shes taken it to a whole new level, an insider told The Enquirer. “Shes into eating products made with ancient grains and raves about their health benefits. She claims they provide her with nutrients she cant find anywhere else, plus shinier skin. But the problem is that shes not balancing her diet with fruits, meats or vegetables.
Are ancient grains really that good for you?
Should Angelina Jolie ditch the ancient grains diet?(Shutterstock)
In a balanced diet, the addition of ancient grains is considered beneficial. According to Specialty Foods, ancient grains?also known as heritage grains?not only have wonderful flavor, they have a number of health benefits.
“We relate to ancient grains when we hear that teff makes the injera bread that sustains Ethiopians; that freekeh originated when farmers fields were burned by marauding soldiers; or that einkorn is the oldest known variety of wheat, pointed out Cynthia Harriman, director of food and nutrition strategies at Oldways and its Whole Grains Council.
We see that consumers trust traditional foods more than overly processed, made-in-a-lab-somewhere foods.
But marketing aside, ancient grains have been linked to a number of health benefits such as a reduction in diabetes risk, lower blood pressure and decreased abdominal fat.
“?Because theyre ancient, there is a perception that these grains are not as processed as traditional grains like wheat or oats,” Tom Vierhile, Datamonitor Consumers innovation insights director, added. “Theyre also generally free of GMOs, so they appeal to consumers looking for natural foods, and many are either gluten-free or contain reduced amounts of gluten relative to the traditional grains.”
News24 indicates individuals who wish to add ancient grains to their diet should consider the following:
- Spelt: A whole grain high in fiber often used in baking.
- Amaranth: A “pseudo-grain” as it is seen as both a herb and vegetable. High in protein and fiber and gluten-free.
- Chia seeds: Rich in antioxidants and minerals as well as omega-3 fatty acids.
- Quinoa: A seed considered to be a complete protein, meaning it contains all of the essential amino acids.
- Millet: Gluten-free and considered highly nutritious.
- Kamut: A grain high in antioxidants.
- Buckwheat : Another pseudo-cereal crop considered a complete protein.
SEE ALSO: Making healthier choices: Quinoa, the super seed, not grain
