Healthy Types Of Flour You Need To Add To Your Diet

Let’s be real. Carbs have always been considered to be the ultimate villain in one’s diet. As soon as one goes on a health and fitness journey, the first thing recommended to them is to drop everything carbs from their diet. However, carbs are also what keep you full for a longer period of time. Moreover, let’s be honest, nothing tastes better than bread or naans or chappati to complement your main dish. Hence, we have accumulated a few healthy different types of flour that are not only healthy but also delicious and can be customized as per your liking.

5 Healthy Types Of Flour

You can bake your traditional bread along with Indian bread delicacies with these different types of flour. Interestingly, if you’re someone who is allergic to gluten and can’t digest it properly then you can also substitute your regular flour with any of these healthy types of flour. So, let’s check them out:

1. Coconut Flour

When coconut meat is ground into a soft and very fine powder, it forms a grain-free and gluten-free coconut flour. It is a great source of protein, fiber, fat, and other essential minerals like potassium and iron, and is also dense in calories than many other traditional grain-based flours. A substantial amount of fat is contained in coconut flours, unlike many grain flours. The fat coconut flour has is saturated and is mainly comprised of medium-chain triglycerides, which support healthy metabolism and could possibly reduce inflammation. It is also very rich in antioxidants and has anti-microbial properties.

Coconut flour has got a mildly sweet flavor which helps in making cakes, cookies, etc. a lot better, tastier, and healthier. It has a gritty texture to itself and tends to absorb lots of fluid which could possibly dry out some baked goods.

2. Almond Flour

When blanched almonds are ground into a fine powder, it gives way to almond flour, which doesn’t contain grains, so is naturally gluten-free and a very popular healthy type of flour. Almond meal and almond flour are different in the way that almond meal is a coarser ingredient and is prepared by grinding almonds which have their skins still intact, whereas they are blanched in almond flour.

Almond flour is a very good source of plant protein, Omega-3 unsaturated fats, magnesium, and Vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant. It is higher in calories than almonds just like other seeds and nuts have high calories too. The nutrients present in almond flour provide improved insulin resistance, lower LDL cholesterol levels, and lower blood pressure. Almonds also protect brain health, as Vitamin E is known to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. Almond flour has a nutty flavor and suits almost all types of baked goods.

3. Quinoa Flour

When quinoa is ground into a fine powder, it forms quinoa flour. It is a gluten-free pseudocereal and is widely considered as a whole grain, meaning it has its original nutrients intact because it hasn’t been refined or processed. Quinoa flour is a very good source of protein, iron, fiber, and unsaturated fats.

In addition to this, it also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which benefit the digestive health and lower overall disease risk. Quinoa flour gives a moist and tender texture to baked goods making it a suitable and healthier choice for food.

4. Buckwheat flour

It is made from ground buckwheat, which is a plant and is named so because of its grain-like seeds. Buckwheat is unrelated to wheat unlike its name and therefore it is gluten-free. It is a good source of protein, fiber, and several micronutrients like magnesium, iron, copper, etc. Research shows that it can reduce blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. It can also have anticancer, prebiotic, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is used in baked goods and for crumb coatings.

5. Whole-wheat flour

It is present in most of the baked goods we buy from markets and bakeries. Whole wheat and white flour are very different as white flour removes most of the nutrients by removing the bran and germ part and in whole wheat flour they are ground along, so whole wheat flour is more nutritious. It is not gluten-free but is definitely a good source of protein, fiber, and several other Vitamins and minerals. It is unrefined and thus, gives a less fluffy texture than white flour. It can be enjoyed in a lot of baked goods.

So, these were a few healthy different types of flour that you can add to your diet and replace your traditional flour with. If you’re someone who can’t fully commit to a healthy lifestyle but wants to begin at some stages then you should definitely start your journey with these flour and change the refined products in your diet to these healthier ones.