To eat grains or not to eat grains? That’s the question bedeviling many local doctors and naturopaths.

Proponents of the ultra-restrictive, protein-based paleo diet frown on their inclusion in a healthy eating plan, saying they can inflame the body’s organs and slow digestion.

But many nutritional experts consider whole grains, everything from quinoa to brown rice to buckwheat, an essential part of a balanced diet. And Asian diets, some of the healthiest in the world, rely heavily on grains.

Some nutritionists say you can eat grains without harm if you sprout them first, ridding them of their natural toxins and inflammatory qualities. Simply let them sit in water for eight to 24 hours before rinsing and cooking.

Others allow for consuming only certain whole grains like millet, amaranth and brown rice, which have been minimally processed.

Almost all local naturopaths and dieticians forbid wheat, whether it’s whole or not, saying the grain has been so genetically altered over the years that the human body can’t tolerate it.

Grains contain fiber, which naturally cleanses the intestinal tract, said Amita Nathwani, a local practitioner of Ayurveda medicine. If they’re whole grains and organically grown, grains like lentils can be helpful to the digestive system.

“We Americans abuse the carbo thing” she said. “If you eat whole grains, make them organic and do everything in moderation.”