14 Feb
Whole Grain

Baking with freshly ground whole grain flour

If you have little kids at home you must definitely be loving to bake some delights for them.  Baking is better with freshly stone grounded whole grain flour both in terms of taste, aroma and nutrition.

Previously, consumption of baked goodies was considered unhealthy owing to higher carbs and calories in them. However this has changed now a days with people opting out of refined flour and sugar and choosing healthier alternatives like, whole wheat flour and jaggery as nutritious and tastier options.   

Now you can choose to freshly stone grind the grains of your choice with Hawos Flour mills right on your own kitchen slab and have an unending supply of healthy and unadulterated flour at your fingertips. Turning baking into a tastier and more importantly, a healthier indulgence

Now since you are aware of the enhanced taste, healthier option and prudence of freshly milled flour, let’s talk about how baking with freshly milled flour performs better than packed or stored flour.

  1. Stored flour get compacted and dense over time, while freshly milled flour is light and fluffy. All what you need is an adjustment in measurements depending on what are you baking. 
  2. With Hawos Flour mill you have the flexibility of adjusting the coarseness of the flour.
  3. One can grind exactly how much is required, for example if one needs 200gm of fresh flour, 200 gm of whole wheat berries can be milled. The weight remains constant while converting the grain to flour, but volume will change. In this way, one can be more informed about the measurements of ingredients accurately. Using fresh ingredient will consequently make baked goods fresh every time and conveniently at that.
  4. Wholesome nutrients in the freshly milled flour help in the proliferation of yeast, which make the fermentation faster.
  5. Freshly stone ground flour absorbs considerably more amount of water, which undoubtedly leads to addition its nutrition value.
  1. When baking a loaf the bread, it will have tighter crumb.

The stone ground method of milling can be used for all of baking needs with different grains. Choosing the particle size of the flour is one more convenience that comes with these mills.   

In a nutshell: Give a treat to your taste buds with delicious home baked cakes, breads and more in a healthify way with stone grinding Hawos Flour mills”.

“Eat Fresh, Live Longer”

05 Feb
Whole Grain

NEW RESEARCH: WHOLE GRAINS CAN LOWER DEATH RISK

Here at the Whole Grains Council, we have long been singing the praises of healthy whole grains, so we’re especially delighted to share new research showing that whole grains may help you live longer!

In this exciting study, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health analyzed data from over 110,000 adults. The scientists found that every one-ounce (28g) serving of whole grains was associated with a 5% lower total risk of death, or a 9% lower risk of death from heart disease. Whole grain intake was not significantly associated with cancer mortality. The researchers of this study conclude “these results are in line with recommendations that promote increased whole grain consumption to facilitate disease prevention.”

[Want to more? Check out the blog we wrote a few days later on the Ordway’s Table.]

Since the founding of the Whole Grains Council in 2003, we have been promoting whole grain foods for their numerous health benefits and their delicious, full-bodied flavor. Check out the other health benefits of whole grain consumption here, or browse our whole grain health studies database. 

Wondering how you can get more whole grains in your diet? Look for our Whole Grains Stamp on products at the grocery store, subscribe to our monthly email newsletter, or try one of our many recipes! (Kelly)

31 Jan
Whole Grain

WHOLE GRAIN VALUE: 25% MORE PROTEIN THAN REFINED GRAIN

If you’re trying to eat more protein, you’re not alone. But if the only things that come to mind when you think “protein” are grilled meats and Greek yogurt, a simple swap for boosting your protein intake could be hiding right under your nose: just switch to whole grains! Most grains have about 25% more protein when eaten their whole form; whole wheat flour, for example, has 28% more protein than refined wheat flour.

Here’s some food for thought: Of the six foods below, which have the most protein?

3 GRAINS
3 NON – GRAINS

You might be surprised to learn that all six foods contain about 6 grams of protein each. Since a sedentary man needs about 56 grams of protein a day, and a sedentary woman about 46 grams a day, whole grains can make a significant contribution to your daily protein needs. 

hat’s good news, given that so many of us are looking for more protein. According to a 2014 Mintel report  titled “Protein Fever,” one-quarter of Americans said they were eating more protein than a year ago. In a 2015 analysis, NPD GROUP  said, “It’s protein’s time to shine” and went on to say that heightened interest in protein extends to all age groups.

In a late 2015 Forbes.com article, Phil Lempert predicted that, “In 2016 we will see new kinds of proteins that are more sustainable and affordable than animal sources. Algae, nuts, vegetables, yeast and even insects will be used as ingredients to up the protein punch.” And sure enough, a few manufacturers are responding by adding cricket flour to boost protein content. Or adding peanut flour to brands that never contained it before, to the consternation of some with peanut allergies. 

Given that companies are looking for a protein punch in every place imaginable, it is only a matter of time before manufacturers embrace the added value of whole grains, rather than trying to disassemble nature and put it back together again. Especially since whole grains also boast a host of other taste, environmental, and nutrition benefits.

20 Dec
Whole Grain

WHOLE GRAINS PLAY MAIN ROLE IN TOP 10 OVERALL DIETS

Opinions about the ‘best’ way to fuel your body for optimal health and longevity will always exist. Conflicting advice about what you should, and what you shouldn’t, eat is hard to avoid. With a new dietary villain around every corner and new panacea behind every door – it’s easy to get exhausted and feel lost in the chaos!

For many, the term ‘diet’ conjures up the type of eating pattern encouraged by this narrative – one of exclusion, extremes, and restrictive, rigid plans. However, the top 10 overall diets of 2019, as ranked by The US News and World report, highlight a different attitude toward the idea of a diet. Though distinct in purpose and direction, they each offer approachable guidelines towards a healthy lifestyle, focusing on the advice you have probably heard before. Though these diets vary, they share commonalities and themes which shine a light on trends in our current health and nutrition landscape at large, emphasizing: whole foods, the energy quality of our food, and chronic disease prevention. We are proud to report – though we can’t say we’re surprised – that whole grains play an active role in the top 10 diets on this list by supporting these larger themes.

More Whole, Plant-Based Foods

These diets echo each other, despite the fact that their end goals range from weight loss to brain health. They emphasize increased consumption of whole, minimally-processed foods. We have all heard it before (probably from Mom), but these diets encourage us to put more vegetables, whole grains, and fruits on our plates. Limited consumption of poultry and low-fat meat is part of the majority of these diets, with the Mediterranean Diet promoting seafood consumption and the Nordic Diet encouraging high-quality meat in the limited instances meat is consumed. The popularity of the Flexitarian Diet exemplifies the success of this light-on-meat attitude – while mostly vegetarian, it makes room for animal protein when the mood strikes.

Energy Quality

Energy quality is a slightly different way to categorize the food we consume. Highly-refined and fatty foods contain a concentrated punch of energy in a small package – meeting a large portion of your daily energy requirements with just a few bites. This can restrict the diversity and volume of higher-quality foods consumed over the course of the day, and can easily lead to an overconsumption of energy.

The Volumetric and the Mayo Clinic diets use energy density as the scaffolding for their recommendations. The energy density of a food is its energy content per unit of weight. Plant-based foods tend to exhibit low energy density, with high fiber and water content. Fatty and refined foods, on the other hand, are energy-dense, containing high-calorie counts per unit of weight. As US News and World Report points out, “for about the same amount of calories you could have a quarter of a Snickers bar or about 2 cups of broccoli.” By recommending foods with a lower energy density (like broccoli), these diets limit your energy consumption without reducing the total amount of food you eat.

Whole grains not only have low energy density, but intact whole grains have a low Glycemic Index as well – a measurement which rates how quickly carbohydrates are converted into glucose/energy. Your body breaks down whole grains more slowly than it does refined grains, making whole grains a more sustained energy source for your body. You can learn more about whole grain energy quality here.

Chronic disease

The rising rates of chronic diseases worldwide has reached epidemic proportions, so it is no surprise that these diets focus on the prevention of one or more chronic diseases. The Mediterranean and Ornish Diets focus on heart health, and the MIND Diet, true to its name, aims to promote a healthy brain. Managing hypertension and cholesterol is a common goal for almost all of these diets. It’s no surprise, then, to see whole grain recommendations showing up again and again, given the strong role they play in preventing many of the most common chronic diseases including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke.

No matter which way you spin it, whole grains are an important part of a healthful diet. The common themes of this year’s best overall diets show exclusion and extremes are not promoting, and individuals are looking elsewhere. Whether it be for brain health or heart health, there is  to be found centering around eating a diverse array of wholesome foods. (Abby)

17 Dec
Uncategorized, Whole Grain

WHOLE GRAINS AND PLANT-BASED DIETS: 19TH-CENTURY EDITION

According to a NCHS brief released this month, whole grain intake as part of total grain consumption is slowly but steadily increasing among adults aged 20 and older in the United States. Though we still have work to do to get closer to making half of our grains whole and meeting the Dietary Guidelines recommendations, this is heartening news. Keep up the whole grain choices! As scientific understanding of the health benefits of whole grains has increased, more people have begun seeking whole grain products. In fact, 86% of respondents to our 2018 survey indicated health as a main driver in choosing whole grains. Companies are responding to mounting scientific evidence and consumer demand as well. To date, nearly 13,000 products have been registered to carry the Whole Grain Stamp, which requires products contain a minimum of half a serving of whole grains (8g) per labeled serving in order to qualify!

The eating patterns of past generations were equally influenced by advancements in knowledge. America was rapidly changing in the mid-19th and 20th centuries, and a trip down memory lane reveals some surprising influences, who not only impacted what people ate then, but continue to influence what people eat today.

19th Century Nutrition
Nutrition science was still very young in 19th century America. Though the idea that food choice had an impact on health was largely accepted, the specifics of how and why this was true were a matter of speculation. Meat, thought to be more easily digested than vegetables, was often prescribed for ailments along with healthy doses of wine. One man saw a different, plant-based path to health. Sylvester Graham’s thoughts on nutrition were largely influenced by his observations on the impact the increasingly industrialized and urban world had on health. He believed, and promoted, avoidance of all “stimulating” foods and habits and encouraged eating food as close to its natural state as possible. He was an early proponent of a vegetarian diet, and his teachings highlighted the importance of whole grain consumption. Though considered one of the founders of vegetarianism in America, he is perhaps even better known for his whole grain advocacy. 

Graham proselytized grinding grain at home, creating a minimally-processed flour for baking. When Graham’s popularity skyrocketed in the mid-1800s, many shop owners started selling products using coarsely-ground whole grain flour marketed with his name—graham flour, graham bread, and a bit later, the graham cracker. Advancements in the milling process in the late 20th century drastically changed flour production, and what was once ground either at home or by huge stones at the local grist mill was now being crushed in factories by huge porcelain and cast-iron rollers. This roller technology, invented in Hungary in the early 19th century, enabled more of the grain’s endosperm to be extracted from its bran and germ, making the milling process more efficient and the refining process more effective. Refined flour had historically been more expensive, and therefore desirable, due to the extra labor involved in sifting, but now roller mills made this sought-after refined flour cheap and accessible. Despite the boom of refined grain products that followed, Graham’s ideas about the importance of whole grains remained in circulation and continued to influence the next generation of Americans.

Modern Impact
John Kellogg, influenced by Graham’s teachings, created his own health and wellness sanatorium in the late 19th and early 20th century. His method was based around the promotion of health through diet, for which whole grains played an important role. He is perhaps best-known for inventing the corn flake, originally served as a health food at his sanatorium. The resulting rave reviews helped launch the popularization of the breakfast cereal. Charles Post, a patient in Kellogg’s sanatorium and a believer in his methods, soon became his competitor and created his own cereals made with the whole grain flour Graham so strongly believed in.

The health sciences have come far since the 19th and 20th centuries, but the ideas and technology from that era still live on in our current food culture. Roller milling is still used, now efficiently processing both whole and refined grains. Kellogg Company and Post Consumer Brands continue to produce breakfast cereals, including many that carry the Whole Grain Stamp. Graham flour, to this day, is defined by the USDA as a coarsely-ground whole grain wheat flour. While graham flour is defined as a whole grain, graham crackers are not, so make sure you check for the Whole Grain Stamp on your favorite fireside snack, or in an homage to Graham himself, make your own! Have a favorite historic food influencer? Share with us below! (Abby)

17 Oct
Whole Grain

Storing Whole Grains!

Whole grains have gone mainstream, as more and more of us have come to enjoy their fuller, nuttier taste. And buying them is simpler, now that there’s a Whole Grain Stamp to guide the way. But once we get them home, what’s the best and safest way to keep whole grains fresh and full of good nutrients? Just follow a few simple guidelines.

Whole grains must be stored a bit more carefully than their refined counterparts, since the healthy oils found largely in the germ of whole grains can be negatively affected by heat, light and moisture.

Because each grain has a different fat content, their shelf lives vary. In general, follow these rules of thumb:

Whole Intact Grains: The shelf life of whole intact grains, like wheat berries or brown rice, is a bit longer than flours. If stored properly in airtight containers, intact grains will keep for up to 6 months on a cool, dry pantry shelf or up to a year in the freezer.

Whole Grain Flours and Meals: In general, whole grain flours spoil more quickly than intact grains, because their protective bran layer has been broken up and oxygen can reach all parts of the grain. If stored properly in airtight containers, most whole grain flours and meals will keep for 1 to 3 months on a cool, dry pantry shelf or 2 to 6 months in the freezer.

BUYING TIPS

Buy grains that are well packaged and sealed tightly. Check the expiration or “sell by” date and choose the newest one. If you’re buying whole grains from bulk bins, be sure the turnover at the retailer is high and only the freshest grains are available. You’ll want to take into consideration how long the grains might have been sitting on the store shelves before purchasing.

Grains should always look and smell faintly sweet or have no aroma at all. If you detect a musty or oily scent, the grains have passed their peak and should not be purchased.

ABOUT CONTAINERS

Heat, air, and moisture are the enemies of whole grains. All whole grains should be stored in airtight containers with tight-fitting lids or closures. The type of container is a matter of preference. Glass, plastic, and aluminum canisters or zip-top plastic bags can all be successfully used, as long as they are airtight. The seal helps to maintain freshness and will keep the grains from absorbing moisture, odors and flavors from other foods.

Mark the purchase dates on your whole grains, so you can track their freshness the next time you want use them. Best-selling cookbook author and Whole Grains Council Culinary Advisor Lorna Sass shares her system for storing whole grains:

“I open the sealed package by snipping off the top corner. When I’ve poured out what I need, I fold over the top once or twice and put a rubber band around the package. Then I put the package into a zipper-topped bag and mark the date of purchase. If there’s room in my freezer, I store the grains there. Otherwise, I put them in the refrigerator.”

WHOLE GRAIN STORAGE CHART

How long your grains stay fresh at home can depend largely on how much of their shelf life has already been used up at the warehouse and the store, before you bring them home. This means there are no sure-fire absolute guarantees. Here are some guidelines culled from a variety of experts that may help.

28 Sep
Whole Grain

Soul in the whole

Dear reader,

Grain has been a staple of the human diet for thousands of years. Wonderfully simple and imaginative dishes created from buckwheat, spelt, barley, oats, millet, corn, rice, rye and wheat continue to captivate us today.

Cereal grain contains almost all nutrients and building blocks that are essential to our bodies. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, unsaturated fatty acids and fibers.

Commercially available white flour is processed to ensure a long shelf life – at the expense of the kernel’s vital ingredient – ents. It only contains a tasteless, odorless extract from the grain known as endosperm.

Though whole meal flour contains all parts of the kernel, vitamins, vital nutrients and flavor’s deteriorate shortly after milling. After a few days, a grated apple or harvested lettuce is no longer suitable for consumption, yet we cannot visually see the same process with grains.

Our suggestion: Take a variety of grains home with you and mill them yourself! You can mill your own flour as needed and process it right away. Our hawos mills are designed to provide you with an excellent result – every time.

Once you smell the freshly milled flour and taste the power of its kernel in your culinary creations, you’ll know what we mean.

26 Sep
Whole Grain

WHOLE GRAIN BRAIN

The modern day hectic lifestyle, spurs each one of us to chase bigger dreams and higher goals. It is prudent to take a step back to re-calibrate where we stand and what small changes can be brought about in our daily life style to enhance our life quality.

Someone has correctly pointed out that “more important than years in our life, is life in our years”. There are many small changes that one can bring about and one such change is consciously choosing to make whole grains part of our daily diet.

Almost everyone knows that eating natural and healthy is the right thing to do, however when it comes to picking the food from the shelf, it’s the subconscious mind that comes into play or the last happening ad seen that sweeps away our power to make logical decisions. Awareness is the first step towards making the right choices and taking informed decisions.

So what is a whole grain?

All grains in their natural form have three parts- BRAN, GERM and ENDOSPERM and they occur in a certain proportion naturally. When all three parts of the grain are available in the same proportion in the grain as it was growing in the field it is called a whole grain. Needless to say it is in its most natural form readily available for consumption.

What is a refined grain?

Refined grain is the term used to refer to grains that are not whole, i.e. one or more of the 3 key parts is missing (Bran, Germ and Endosperm). This not only reduces the nutrient contents of the food that we eat but also leads to disastrous and widespread nutrition deficiency diseases like Pellagra and Beriberi. So came an influx of products which are fortified/ enriched with nutrients, however only a few do get added and that to in proportions that are different from the original proportion present in the grains naturally.

To place in short a refined grain is a mere shadow of the original grain form. As much as ¼ of the proteins and anywhere from ½ to 2/3rd or more of the score of nutrients are lost due to the refining process. This not only leads to poor nutrient availability in the food we eat, but also leads to a deficiencies diseases.

The chart below compares whole wheat flour to refined wheat flour and enriched wheat flour. You can see the vast difference in essential nutrients.

The natural and best way to address this is to consciously look for the words “WHOLE GRAIN” in the products that we buy, be it in the form of wheat flour that we buy or ready to eat food that we purchase.

The best alternative is to mill your own grains at home. This not only ensures that we are absolutely in know of what we eat, but also provides us the flexibility of deciding what type and proportion of blended flour we get to choose from. Obviously there is nothing like a freshly grounded flour at home that keeps our food naturally nutritive but also enhances the taste of our breads and bakery.

A smart and trendy way to do this is to mill your whole grains fresh through hAWos mills. This top mill brand from Germany, besides a legacy to great technology also  packed with smart modern looks, is light weight, and super easy to operate, providing you the option to make a smarter conscious choice of a healthier lifestyle. 

Enjoy your fresh whole grain everyday…