Advantages human nutrition
Scandinavian scientists of the Nord-Food programme, which was launched in 1993, showed that rye has cancer-protective properties. Rye bread has a preventive effect on prostate, breast and colon cancer and can thus play a key role in human and animal nutrition and contribute to intestinal health.
Benefits of Growing Rye
The study specifically highlights lignan and dietary fibres. Compared to other cereals rye is characterised by a high lignan* content and a particularly favourable ratio of soluble (27 %) and insoluble (73 %) fibres. Dietary fibres are to a large extent indigestible food components which occur predominantly in plant-based foods and are only metabolised by bacteria in the large intestine. Thereby, the acetic acid acetate and short-chain fatty acids like butyrate are produced, which in turn have many positive effects on the body as described above.
However, there is a considerable lack of healthy fibre in modern diets. Humans should have a daily intake of approximately 30 grams or even better 40 grams. Diabetics should consume 40 to 50 grams per day. In the Palaeolithic age humans probably had an approx. daily intake of 100 grams. Today, the German average amounts to maximal 18 grams.
* Lignan= a secondary metabolite which is needed for the formation of lignin.
