The following was originally published in MindBodyGreen.com

Ancient grains are a group of grains and seed-like grains, called pseudocereals. The crops have been staples in countries around the globe for thousands of years and are still minimally processed.

Compared to modern grains, like rice and pasta, ancient grains tend to have greater health benefits. This is likely because they still contain their nutrient-rich kernel, functional medicine doctor and registered dietitian Elizabeth Boham, M.D., M.S., R.D., explains. "The kernel contains the bran, endosperm, and germ," she says. "These germ and bran are rich in the fiber, minerals, vitamins, and phytochemicals."

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