Health and Nutritional Benefits of Whole Wheat Flour

Wheat flour is one of the most commonly used food items in Indian households. Staple diets of North India are incomplete without a dish prepared using whole wheat flour. Moreover, the light & fluffy roti’s prepared using whole wheat flour are relished by millions.

It has a high fibre and nutrient content that makes it suitable for people of any age group. From the lip-smacking delicious atta halwa to mouth-watering parathas, whole wheat flour can be used in the preparation of a host of delicacies. For the best nutrient benefits, you must use the best wheat for chapati in India.

Whole wheat atta preparation

Image source

Did you ever wonder, what is whole wheat flour? Or, what is wheat flour made of? Whole wheat flour is made of wheat berries by grinding them in a mill. The powder thus obtained has a nutty flavour and a coarse texture with a brownish colour to it.

Let’s have a look at the various steps involved in the preparation of whole wheat flour:

• Whole wheat berries are winnowed to remove the husk.
• Wheat berries are put into a grinding mill that has two chiselled iron plates vertically that rotate to grind the wheat.
• The machine rotates and the coarse, brownish powder thus obtained in whole wheat flour.

The word ‘Whole’ in whole wheat flour describes the contents of the flour as every part of the wheat berry goes into the whole wheat flour. The wheat’s germ, bran and the nutrient-rich endosperm are all ground together to form a powdered product.

If you are looking for the best wheat flour for chapati in India, look out for the flour that is organically produced, free of harmful chemicals and has all the nutrients intact so that you reap all the health benefits of whole wheat.

Nutrients in Whole Wheat flour

As a staple food item, what is whole wheat flour in terms of its nutritional properties? There have been numerous studies conducted that have proven that regular whole wheat flour consumption has numerous health benefits. Let’s understand what whole wheat flour is in terms of nutrients, as per FatSecret.

Although this table might have given you a clear idea regarding the nutrient content in whole wheat atta, we will now look at what is whole wheat atta in terms of health benefits. If you want to reap the health benefits of whole wheat, it is crucial that you choose the best wheat for chapati in India.

Whole wheat flour benefits

Image source

What is whole wheat flour in terms of health benefits? It is one of the most nutrient-rich flour that you can put in your body. Aside from the high fibre and the low gluten content, there are numerous other critical nutrients that your body requires for performing everyday functions:

• Niacin: Whole wheat atta is a rich source of Niacin that has been proven to improve cognitive brain function. In a study published on SpringerLink, it was also stated that Niacin also reduces the symptoms of arthritis and aids in preventing chronic heart diseases.
• Zinc & Magnesium: In another SpringerLink study, it was concluded that the Zinc & Magnesium content in whole wheat flour regulates the insulin response by lowering the body’s insulin resistance.
• Phosphorous: Phosphorous is a highly beneficial nutrient that helps in removing waste products from the body. In fact, according to a study published on ResearchGate, Phosphorous combined with Calcium can go a long way in ensuring healthy bones.
• Iron: A research published on ResearchGate concluded that whole wheat flour is a rich source of Iron. With regular consumption, wheat flour has been proven to fight anaemia and maintain healthy haemoglobin levels.

Conclusion

Now that you know what wheat flour is made of and its nutritional and health benefits, it might have become crystal clear why is it such a widely used food item in the Indian subcontinent. The high fibre and nutrition content combined with a low glycemic index and low gluten, regular wheat flour consumption can surely go a long way in ensuring a healthy lifestyle.