But smart people everywhere are catching on to the concept, even if they don't know the name for it. Strictly speaking, bioavailability refers to the percentage of nutrients you eat which are actually digested, absorbed and put to use by your system. It doesn't matter how well your automobile engine is running if there are no tires to get it around. And it doesn't matter how nutritious your food is if the nutrients don't reach the places where they can do you some good. Spelt is a grain which was originally grown in Europe thousands of years ago.
Legend has it that it was used to nourish warriors in the area now known as Germany.
It so impressed the Roman Legionnaires doing battle with the Germans that they began to use it, too. Eventually, Spelt migrated to the United States. Until the Industrial Revolution in the early 20th century, over a half million acres of Spelt were harvested annually in this country. In the vast sweep of agribusiness and technology, though, Spelt fell by the wayside. As the focus shifted to economics and productivity, issues like nutrition and flavor fell by the wayside.