If Hildegard had a single food group, it would be dinkel wheat or spelt. In fact, her successor, Dr. Gottfried Hertzka said that “if I ever would get cancer, I would retire with a bag of spelt and a little bag of salt on a remote mountain in the Bavarian Alps and live only by spelt and water. Then we would see who is stronger, me or cancer.”
From her fasting guidelines to her daily nutrition, everything starts with dinkel (spelt) for Hildegard, particularly spelt muesli for breakfast.
Spelt Muesli for Breakfast with Hildegard’s Habermus
Among its many benefits, Hildegard believed spelt to improve our overall disposition. Spelt’s nutritional profile reflects high mucopolysaccharides, which advance blood function, boost the immune system, and improve bodily humors and balance. According to Hildegard, a secret of good health is the body’s ability to absorb or counterbalance black bile. “If humans did not possess the bitterness of bile and the darkness of black bile, they would always be healthy,” she wrote.
For Hildegard, spelt served the role of balancing our body’s bile.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup rolled spelt flakes
- 1/3 cup of water
- 1/2 apple
- Add some Psyllium husk powder, Chestnut semolina, and Buckwheat
- cinnamon to taste
- salt to taste
- Hildegard’s fennel herbal powder to taste
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan and then add the rolled spelt flakes. Reduce heat and cook 10 to 15 minutes, depending on your preferred consistency. Continue stirring occasionally. Add salt, cinnamon, and Hildegard’s fennel herbal powder to taste. Salt to taste. Serve with maple syrup, agave nectar, honey and or milk.