Pertwood Organic Farm

Health & Nutrition

• Why wheat-free

Every one of our cereals is wheat-free. Now why is that important you may ask? If you are a coeliac it's critical to avoid gluten which is contained in wheat, rye, barley and oats. However, most people benefit simply from reducing the quantity of refined wheat they eat.

Nutritional Therapist, Susie O'Kelly makes the point that "Generally, people eat a very limited range of foods. A wheat cereal for breakfast, a sandwich or wrap for lunch, and a pasta based meal for dinner. I am constantly advising people to eat a good variety of foods and rotate them in order to reduce the risk of food intolerances. We are creatures of habit, and it's easy to get stuck in a rut. Pertwood's cereals have a very good range of healthy grains, including whole oats, barley and rye.

Most of my clients need their dietary changes to fit with a busy lifestyle. Now I can recommend the Pertwood range as nutritious, convenient and enjoyable to eat."

Words by Health Researcher Sue Vissuer - advice on whole wheat and cereals made of wheat bran...

"Wheat is not tolerated by 90% of the population due to their blood type (inherited) eating preferences. Only blood type A1 who secretes wheat friendly antigens in digestive juices can benefit from it. For these people it is a healthy choice, but for the rest of mankind it causes havoc to the constitution. Wheat is a surreptitious, underhand cereal killer and has crept into just about every morsel we eat. Trying to scour out your intestines with wheat bran is even more hazardous and this includes blood type A -secretors. Bran is totally indigestible and can best serve to swell up with water and bulk up the intestines on its way out. Bran contains phytic acid and your bones are stripped of calcium in order to neutralize it. So, it contributes to osteoporosis as well. We get so many self-inflicted diseases from stupid eating habits. Osteoporosis or the thinning of bones is merely a symptom of uncontrolled acidity. Diets laden with carbohydrates and disagreeable lectins or gluten you don't tolerate can cause extreme acidity not only in the intestines, but also in the bloodstream and soft tissue."

• Why oats and barley?

"Did you know refined wheat has 25 nutrients removed and only 4 replaced? It loses 87% of its essential minerals in the refining process. So just by switching from refined wheat based breakfast to an unrefined oat or barley breakfast you will be better nourished" says Susie.

Complex carbohydrates

The nation eats carbohydrates and sugars with abandon. The average person eats about 50% of their diet from these refined foods. Many refined foods are actually anti nutrients or nutrient robbers. This means they prevent nutrients being absorbed by the body. It is critical for anyone hoping to feel good all day to balance blood sugar. Our sugar handling capacity affects our energy, mood, ability to concentrate - a multitude of biochemical reactions.

The role of carbohydrates is to produce energy. Too many simple carbohydrates (processed) will cause a blood sugar roller coaster of highs and lows. It is vital to choose mainly complex carbohydrates like brown rice, wholegrain bread and Porridge Oats. These are then slowly released in to the blood stream at an even rate. Eating protein with your complex carbohydrate will also slow the process leading to steady glucose levels in the body. Pertwood's Muesli Fruit & Seeds and Granola both contain seeds, an excellent source of protein.

High in insoluble fibre

Oats and barley are also a great source of cholesterol lowing insoluble fibre. The effect is to speed up "transit time" through the gut (helping to remove toxins and waste products and also helping prevent constipation & bloating). Plus fibre further helps to steady blood sugar levels, helping to maintain energy levels and weight control.

B vitamins, magnesium, manganese & selenium

Oats and barley are a good source of B vitamins, which are needed for energy production in the body, for hormone balance and to help regulate mood. They are also a source of magnesium. Magnesium is important for heart health and works with calcium in maintaining bone density.

Clinical Nutritionist Helena Oades, states "Manganese helps to keep joints healthy and is needed for proper brain function. Whole grains, such as those in Pertwood Organic Farm cereals are a rich source of manganese. Furthermore the immune system and metabolism both need the mineral selenium to work properly, found in both oats and barley. Oats area also rich in silicon, to help renew bones and connective tissue. They also contain the mineral phosphorus needed by the brain and nerve tissue."