Is Einkorn Gluten Free?
If you’re asking yourself whether Einkorn contains gluten, the answer is “Yes, it absolutely does!”…but I have a secret to tell you. And I should probably disclose that this is not something your “everyday family doctor” is going to tell you. Here’s the secret: not all wheat gluten is created equal.
I like to explain by comparing sucanat and aspartame sweeteners.  Imagine pouring a perfectly sweetened blueberry syrup over your hot-off-the-stove pancakes for your morning breakfast. If that syrup is made from natural sucanat sweetener or aspartame, it’s going to taste great either way. However, inside your body, the aspartame is killing brain cells while the sucanat is an unmodified substance that most people’s body can process naturally, without any damage to the body.
Einkorn has an entirely different genetic makeup than modern wheat. Modern wheats have been hybridized through years and years and millions and millions of $$$ in research. The goal of hybridization has been to increase yields, fight against plant disease, pests, weather conditions, etc. and many are starting to wonder if this long history of hybridization is the explanation for the rising number of people with a high intolerance to gluten.
I’m not saying I have all the answers…that’s why I have this website and it’s why I am researching the history and nutritional properties of Einkorn.
Einkorn differs from modern wheat in 3 important ways, all of which may contribute to gluten intolerance:
- Most modern wheat is a hybrid of many different grains and grasses.
- Einkorn has a 14 chromosomes , whereas modern wheat has a 42 chromosomes which changes the gluten structure
- Einkorn is considered more nutritious than modern wheat, based on the higher level of protein, essential fatty acids, phosphorous, potassium, pyridoxine, and beta-carotene.
Is it any wonder that so many people today are plagued with allergies and even extreme sickness as a result of eating modern wheat?
Anyway, getting back to the original question of whether Einkorn flour contains gluten. Most people ask this question because they would like to start eating bread again. I hope my answer gives you some hope.
Additionally, I have met some doctors who are working with suffers of celiac and gluten intolerance to see if they can safely eat specific, tested sources of Einkorn. These patients are going through a healing regimen first to get to this point and the initial results are very promising.
Stay tuned…I think we’re on to something here.
122 thoughts on “Is Einkorn Gluten Free?”
I am a celiac. I was diagnosed by three biopsies about 10 years ago now. People here need to understand that if you’ve been told by your physician your a celiac that sometimes people can eat gluten and not experience symptoms BUT the damage is still being done to your villi. This means your body won’t be able to absorb nutrients from your food and your at a increased risk of certain cancers. Eating a flour with ANY GLUTEN is dangerous to your health with celiac disease! This is very different if you only have intolerance issues. DO NOT eat EINKORN if your a celiac!
Would Kamut and Spelt also be as good as Einkorn regarding gluten?
Hi Roger, what makes einkorn’s gluten so unique is that einkorn has never been hybridized. That cannot be said of spelt or kamut, however they are better than modern wheat as far as gluten goes.
I would love to see your rebuttal to what this link by the author of Wheat Belly… says about wheat germ being toxic. I don’t know if he means all wheat germ or only hybridized wheat getm?
Did I forget to include the link?
http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/2013/12/autoimmunity-and-wheat/
Hi Steve, most of our rebuttal is anecdotal. There is evidence that the gluten in einkorn is very different from modern wheat and is packaged in a way that our bodies are more equipped to handle. We know a lot about what’s in einkorn nutritionally and it’s exciting! But there has been little research done about why the gluten doesn’t cause the same problems as modern wheat. Combining the science we know with experience, it’s clear that einkorn just can’t be compared with modern wheat in terms with health. We’ve had customer after customer who can’t eat wheat tell us how good they feel eating einkorn. We recommend that everyone try it for themselves and celiac patients consult with their doctors first.
Lynn, I am glad you do not have a gluten intolerance. As for me, I cannot get diagnosed due to the requirement to eat gluten for three months before they can test for an intolerance. What I can tell you is that for me and my body, I cannot eat modern wheat. I get intestinal distress followed by three days of severe fatigue, mental fog, aches, pain and “attitude issues”. I found this site due to a bad purchase at the mamaker of some einkorn crackers that I ate by mistake. Funny thing is that instead of all the above issues, I had no bad reaction. Gluten free may be a fad diet for some people but for me it was a solution to years of migraines and other severe medical issues.
I have atypical and self-limiting reactions to wheat. Probably not to gluten, per se. Because I can drink beer without any symptoms. Vertigo, ataxia, involuntary eye movements, heart palpitations and something I can only describe as “blood rushes” to my head. Very vascular and very neurological symptoms.
So I am somewhat courageous in trying products since my cluster of symptoms has never really progressed in severity and last about 1-2 hours. Einkorn wheat sounding interesting and I had my husband make me some cookies with it. No symptoms at all. So I buy Einkorn wheat. 🙂
Hi JenniWest:
How were you able to link “[v]ertigo, ataxia, involuntary eye movements, heart palpitations and something I can only describe as “blood rushes” to my head. Very vascular and very neurological symptoms,” (which I assume are your symptoms) to wheat?
You mentioned “the aspartame is killing brain cells”. Can you point me to any resources?
Dawn have you tried Spelt Flour its much the same gluten intolarnt ppl can have this flour it makes a very nice loaf has a nutty flavor to it
Not sure what the evidence is for “extreme sickness as a result of eating modern wheat” in the general population. Gluten-free is a fad diet for those who do not have celiac disease.
While there are a lot of people jumping on the gluten free bandwagon, please know that there are some of us that have been diagnosed my a medical doctor to have a gluten sensitivity/intolerance.