Flour's Nutrients have Decreased Over Time Due to Processing Methods
There are records indicating that whole grains (breads) have been around since about 1450 B.C. Bread has been a staple food and key part of a healthy diet throughout all of documented human history. Bread is even referenced in the very first book of the Bible, Genesis, chapter three! No civilization has ever survived without a grain source. In America, that grain source is wheat.
Wheat is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. It has 40/44 essential nutrients. It is also listed as one of the highest food source of antioxidants (read more in Key Nutrients here).
So, how do we go from WHEAT being so healthy....to our population's health declining and commercial flour making us feel bloated, have headaches, acid reflux and more?
In short, the need for longer shelf life drove some major changes.
Commercial milling companies found that by removing part of the wheat berry (the bran and germ, see image on our LEARN page), the shelf life of the flour could be extended almost indefinitely- a pro for supply chains, but unfortunately to the detriment of our health as consumers.
This timeline provides a very brief overview:
So here's the deal, once they SIFT the bran and germ out, HEAT the flour at high temps, TREAT the flour with chemical (ie. bleach/synthetic nutrients, etc.) and let it SIT on the shelves it's no longer the superfood it once was.
Here's some red flags to look for when considering your flour source...
The Unsifted® Difference
Want to know the flour with ALL green flags? Unsifted® freshly milled flour!
We created high quality custom grain blends to provide exceptional flavor, nutritional diversity, and premium baking performance. Our Unsifted® Basic Blend is a high protein bread flour for soft, lofty breads and our Unsifted®Dessert Blend is a mild low-protein blend for fluffy pancakes and pastries. And the good news is our recipes tell you EXACTLY how much of the grain to mill. You literally don't have to learn ANYTHING about grains to successfully bake Unsifted®.
PS: There are no other grain blends currently being sold on the market and we know everyone doesn't have the time or interest to experiment with tons of different varieties to find a taste and texture their family will like....this is why we created our well loved grain blends.
Our Unsifted® Starter Kit has everything you need to easily mill and bake with fresh flour. We take all the guesswork out of this healthful (and delicious!) adventure to make whole grain baking fun and stress-free!
We designed the Starter Kit to make #modernmilling as easy as possible for our families and people we love to enjoy fresh flour baking, and we are thrilled to share it with you!
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Information published by Unsifted.com is no substitute for medical advice. For questions or concerns, please consult your health care provider for your own specific individual nutritional and medical needs. For more information, please visit our disclaimer page here.
