Monocoque triptych
Triticum monococcus(Hammurabi) or small spelt is the ancestor of spelt and is one of the oldest cereals used by humans since the emergence of the first farming communities 10000 years ago. It has an 11-month growing cycle, is adapted to low-impact cultivation methods and excellent disease resistance. Recently, very interesting studies are being carried out that take into consideration not so much the gluten content it has, but the type of gluten. It has a simpler genome than the so-called polyploid grains. In fact, the focus is on a particular type of gluten that is called more fragile than the other homologues, with a protein part that seems to be totally broken down and destroyed during digestion and for this very reason less toxic and therefore more digestible.
Although we cannot yet say that it is a cure, and it is still not recommended for those who manifest celiac disease, what seems certain is that, it will be able to help those with increased sensitivity to gluten to raise the threshold of allergic sensitivity and positively affect personal well-being. Returning to these ancient forms of wheat will be good for biodiversity, and it will be increasingly important to know who grows the wheat, how they mill it, and who processes it.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gianfrani C, Camarca A, Mazzarella G, Di Stasio L, Giardullo N, Ferranti P, Picariello G, Aufiero VR, Picascia S, Troncone R, Pogna N, AuricchioS, Mamone G. Extensive in vitro gastrointestinal digestion markedly reduces the immune-toxicity of Triticum monococcum wheat: implication for celiac disease. Molecular Nutrition Food Research. 2015 May 28. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201500126. Isa-Cnr of Avellino and Ibp-Cnr of Naples.
