Exploring Whole Grain Foods
From Around the World

This site is dedicated to reintroducing people to the whole grain foods their ancestors knew and loved.

We welcome you as a culinary tourist to move through this site exploring and discovering whole grain foods and recipes from around the world and becoming healthier for it.

Cooking Whole Grains

Cooking with whole grains like Barley, Millet, and Quinoa is no longer common knowledge. At versagrain.com you will find everything you need to know about cooking, nutrition, and taste of whole grains from a number of different cultures. We have also included traditional and contemporary whole grain recipes for every grain mentioned on this site.

Health Benefits of Whole Grains

The health benefits of whole grains are well known but how to incorporate them into our diet is not. For many of us our whole grain food intake comes from only a few dietary sources such as Wheat, Oat, or Brown Rice. This limits our options to only a handful of whole grain dishes we regularly eat. The best way to get more whole grains in your diet is to increase your food options by exploring dishes based on other grains. This will not only help you get your FDA suggested 3-5 servings of whole grain a day, but it will also help you reap the specific health benefits of the different whole grains you eat (i.e. building muscle, lowering cholesterol, or increasing energy, etc).

Ancient Grains

It's interesting to note that the strength of ancient armies and peoples were often attributed to the variety of grain they ate. The gladiators of ancient Rome, infamous for their strength and ferocity, were known as Hordearii or "Eaters of Barley". They like the Greeks before them, attributed strength and athleticism to the Barley they ate.

Egyptian wheat (believed to be Kamut) was cultivated on the flood plains of the Nile River. Its large, protein-rich, wheat berries (grains) have been called Egypt's "Golden Power". This healthy food source was the key to the Egyptian army's strength and ability to wage war. Being the bread-basket of the ancient world enabled Egypt to build the great pyramids and conquer and maintain their vast empire.

Rediscover Whole Grains

The right grains will not only rev-up your life but put the breaks on your death. Conditions such as cancer, obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, diverticulitis, etc. are all attributed to a lack of whole grains in our diets due to our preference for refined white flour products. In fact, before 1890, when white flour was invented, these illnesses were relatively uncommon.

Increasing your intake of natural grains is one of the best ways to rapidly improve your health without any major effort. It only requires resolve. A resolve to feed your body natural foods so your body can better perform its natural functions.

And don't worry - we will show you how to make whole grain foods that aren't just great for your body but taste great too!