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Spelt, cooked

Grains Per 100 g · Per 100g serving
Contains: 🌾 Wheat

Spelt, cooked is a grain at 127 calories per 100g. It is a good source of Manganese, providing 47% of the Daily Value per 100g. This grain is a useful source of fiber, virtually fat-free. Grains are a primary source of carbohydrates, B vitamins, and minerals. Whole grains retain the bran and germ, providing substantially more fiber and micronutrients than refined grains. Our database tracks 41 nutrients for this food, plus insulin index, environmental footprint data.

127
Calories
kcal
5.5
Protein
g
0.85
Fat
g
26.4
Carbs
g
3.9
Fiber
g

Top Nutrients

💎
Manganese
1.1 mg
47% DV
💎
Copper
0.21 mg
24% DV
💎
Phosphorus
150 mg
21% DV

Data for 41 of 150 tracked nutrients

Nutrient Fingerprint

How this food scores across key nutrient categories, as a percentage of the daily recommended value per 100 g. Based on USDA DRIs for adults.

Complete Nutrient Profile

Macronutrients 9
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Water SR66.6g
2%
Calories SR127kcal
Energy (kJ) SR530kj
Protein SR5.5g
10%
Total Fat SR0.85g
Carbohydrate SR26.4g
20%
Fiber SR3.9g
10%
Starch SR19.6g
Ash SR0.65g
Minerals 10
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Calcium SR10.0mg
1%
Iron SR1.7mg
21%
Magnesium SR49.0mg
12%
Phosphorus SR150mg
21%
Potassium SR143mg
4%
Sodium SR5.0mg
0%
Zinc SR1.2mg
11%
Copper SR0.21mg
24%
Manganese SR1.1mg
47%
Selenium SR4.0µg
7%
Vitamins 21
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Vitamin A (RAE) SR4.0µg
0%
Vitamin A (IU) SR0IU
Retinol SR0µg
Vitamin C SR0mg
Vitamin E SR0.26mg
2%
Beta-Tocopherol SR0.08mg
Gamma-Tocopherol SR0.55mg
Delta-Tocopherol SR0mg
Alpha-Tocotrienol SR0.11mg
Beta-Tocotrienol SR0mg
Gamma-Tocotrienol SR0mg
Delta-Tocotrienol SR0mg
Thiamin (B1) SR0.10mg
9%
Riboflavin (B2) SR0.03mg
2%
Niacin (B3) SR2.6mg
16%
Vitamin B6 SR0.08mg
6%
Folate SR13.0µg
3%
Folic Acid SR0µg
Folate (food) SR13.0µg
Folate (DFE) SR13.0µg
Vitamin B12 SR0µg
Fatty Acids 1
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Cholesterol SR0mg

Nutrient Density Score

The NRF9.3 score measures overall nutritional quality per 100 kcal. It rewards 9 nutrients to encourage (protein, fiber, vitamins A, C, E, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium) and penalizes 3 to limit (saturated fat, added sugars, sodium). Higher is better; negative scores indicate the food is high in limit nutrients relative to its beneficial content.

41
NRF9.3 Score
Moderate · per 100 kcal
Poor (<0) Moderate Good Excellent (100+)

NRF9.3 index: Fulgoni et al. (2009), J Nutr 139(8). DVs based on FDA 2020 reference values.

Nutrient Interactions in This Food

Nutrients in this food that enhance or compete with each other during absorption.

✔ Synergies — nutrients that help each other

Vitamin B6 + Magnesium●●

Vitamin B6 may enhance intracellular magnesium accumulation. Combined supplementation has shown greater benefits for stress and anxiety than magnesium alone.

Pouteau et al., PLoS One, 2018

⚠ Antagonisms — nutrients that compete

Zinc vs Copper●●●

High zinc intake induces metallothionein in enterocytes, which traps copper and blocks its absorption. Prolonged high-dose zinc can cause copper deficiency.

Prasad et al., JAMA, 1978; Fosmire, Am J Clin Nutr, 1990

Zinc vs Iron●●

Zinc and non-heme iron compete for the same intestinal transporter (DMT1). High doses of one can reduce absorption of the other when taken simultaneously.

Rossander-Hulten et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 1991

Fiber vs Iron●●

Phytates in high-fibre foods (whole grains, legumes) bind non-heme iron and reduce its bioavailability. Soaking, sprouting, and fermentation reduce phytate content.

Hurrell & Egli, Int J Vitam Nutr Res, 2010

Fiber vs Zinc●●

Phytates in fibre-rich foods chelate zinc, reducing its bioavailability by up to 50% in high-phytate diets. This is a major concern in plant-based diets.

Sandstrom, Food Nutr Res, 1997

Manganese vs Iron●●

Manganese and iron share the DMT1 transporter and compete for absorption. High iron status reduces manganese absorption and vice versa.

Erikson et al., Pharmacol Ther, 2007

How Cooking Changes Nutrients

Estimated percentage of each nutrient retained after cooking, based on USDA retention factors for the “Rice” food category. Values of 100% mean no loss; lower values indicate nutrients lost to heat, water, or oxidation.

Key insights
Folate loses up to 40% when boiled (drained). Boiled (water used) retains 70%.

Source: USDA Table of Nutrient Retention Factors, Release 6 (2007). Retention values are category-level averages — actual retention depends on cooking time, temperature, and water volume.

USDA Retention Factors

Insulin Response

The Insulin Index (II) measures the actual insulin response to food on a scale where white bread = 100. Unlike the Glycemic Index (which only measures blood sugar), the II captures the full hormonal response — including the effect of protein and fat on insulin secretion. This is why high-protein foods like meat and dairy can have significant insulin scores despite having low or zero GI values.

64
Insulin Index
High Insulin Response
Insulin Index Scale 64
0 Low ≤30 Mod ≤60 High ≤100 120
Macro Model ●● Estimated from macronutrient composition (R²=0.49)

Source: Holt et al. 1997; Bao et al. 2016; Bell 2014

Environmental Impact

Environmental footprint per kilogram of food produced. Data represents the global average for the “Maize (Meal)” category.

1.7
kg CO₂e / kg
Low Impact
2.9
m² land / kg
Land Use
216
L water / kg
Water Use
6.9
g SO₂e / kg
Acidification
How this compares (GHG emissions)
Potatoes (0.5)Chicken (9.9)Beef (99.5)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions1.7 kg CO₂e / kg
Land Use2.9 m² / kg
Water Use216 L / kg
Eutrophication4.0 g PO₄e / kg
Acidification6.9 g SO₂e / kg
⚠️ Important context about this data
  • Global averages: These figures are production-weighted averages from a meta-analysis of ~38,700 farms across 119 countries (Poore & Nemecek, 2018). Actual impact varies enormously by farming method, geography, and supply chain.
  • System boundary: Cradle-to-retail only — does not include consumer transport, home cooking energy, or food waste.
  • Soil carbon not included: This data does not account for soil carbon sequestration. Some argue that well-managed regenerative grazing partially offsets ruminant emissions; however, full lifecycle accounting — including methane, land-use change, and the opportunity cost of using land for grazing vs. reforestation — typically makes the net footprint of ruminant meat higher, not lower. This is especially relevant in temperate grassland regions like Ireland.
  • Not gospel: This data is informational and illustrative. It is useful for understanding relative magnitudes, but should not be treated as precise measurements for any individual product or farm.

Source: Poore & Nemecek (2018), Science 360(6392). Meta-analysis of ~38,700 farms, 119 countries, 46 product categories.

Global Supply: Cereals

Top 10 countries by per capita supply of the “Cereals” food group (kcal/capita/day, 2023). This is food group–level data from FAO Food Balance Sheets, not specific to this individual food.

1.
Egypt
1962
2.
Bhutan
1927
3.
Serbia
1888
4.
Morocco
1876
5.
Mali
1862
6.
Ethiopia
1829
7.
Philippines
1774
8.
Bangladesh
1756
9.
Myanmar
1738
10.
Nepal
1679

Global Supply Trend (1961–2023)

+8%
1961: 1030 kcal2023: 1108 kcal

Source: FAO Food Balance Sheets (2023). Supply = production + imports − exports − waste, converted to kcal/capita/day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories are in Spelt, cooked?

Spelt, cooked contains 127 kcal per 100 grams, making it a moderate-calorie food. The energy comes from 5.5g of protein (17% of calories), 0.85g of fat (6%), and 26.4g of carbohydrates (83%). Carbohydrates are the primary energy source.

What is Spelt, cooked most nutritious for?

The standout nutrient in Spelt, cooked is Manganese, providing 1.1 mg per 100g (47% of the Daily Value). It is also a notable source of Copper (24% DV). Our database tracks 41 individual nutrients for this food, allowing detailed comparison across vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids.

Is Spelt, cooked high in protein?

Spelt, cooked contains 5.5g of protein per 100 grams. While not a high-protein food, it can contribute to daily protein needs as part of a varied diet.

How much fiber is in Spelt, cooked?

Spelt, cooked contains 3.9g of fiber per 100 grams — a moderate amount. This contributes to the recommended daily intake of 25-38g. Pairing with other fiber-rich foods like vegetables, legumes, or whole grains can help meet daily targets.

What is the insulin index of Spelt, cooked?

Spelt, cooked has a high insulin response (II: 64) (estimated from macronutrient composition) on the insulin index scale (white bread = 100). Foods with high insulin scores stimulate significant insulin release, which may be relevant for blood sugar management. Note that the insulin index can differ substantially from the glycemic index — dairy products and high-protein foods often have higher insulin responses than their GI would suggest.