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)

16 Oct
Hawos Mill Heritage

WHY YOU MIGHT WANT TO RETHINK A GRAIN-FREE OR GLUTEN-FREE DIET

FIRST THINGS FIRST: WHAT IS GLUTEN?

Humans have been eating gluten for eons. Gluten forming proteins are found naturally in wheat (including ancient wheat’s like einkorn, faro, Kamut®, or spelt), barley, and rye. They’re what help dough stretch and bread rise

VERY FEW PEOPLE NEED A GLUTEN-FREE OR WHEAT-FREE DIET FOR MEDICAL REASONS

Celiac disease, which affects an estimated 1-2% of the US population, is a medically diagnose autoimmune disease that requires strict lifetime adherence to a gluten-free diet. Another 0.2-0.4% of Americans are allergic to wheat (but not barley or rye).  

WHAT ABOUT GLUTEN-SENSITIVITY?

Many patients who respond well to a gluten-free diet, but don’t test positive for Celia disease, are thought to have “non-Celia gluten sensitivity.” But science is casting doubts on the usefulness of gluten-free diets for people like these. Researchers analyzed data from 10 studies, in which 1,312 adults with “non-Celia gluten sensitivity” were tested for their reaction to gluten.1 In these 10 double-blind, placebo-controlled gluten challenges (where neither the researchers nor the participants knew if they were getting a gluten-free diet or the gluten-containing control / placebo), only 16% of the patients showed gluten-specific symptoms when exposed to the gluten-containing diet, and 40% of them had similar or increased symptoms when on the gluten-free control diet. In other words, gluten is probably not the culprit in most people who think they are gluten-sensitive. Blaming gluten may keep other serious problems from being addressed.

THE DOWNSIDES OF UNPRESCRIBED GLUTEN-FREE DIETS

• In a study that followed more than 100,000 US adults without celiac disease2 for more than 25 years, researchers found that eating gluten was not related to heart disease risk. In fact, the researchers cautioned that avoiding gluten may result in eating fewer whole grain foods, which may in turn increase the risk for heart disease.

• Harvard scientists3 found that people eating less gluten had a higher risk for type 2 diabetes. In fact, those in the top 20% of gluten intake were 13% less likely to get type 2 diabetes over the 30-year study period, even after adjusting for family history, exercise habits, weight, and calorie intake. Why? This may be because glutenfree foods are often made with substitutes like potato starch and tapioca that can make blood sugar spike.

• Gluten-free versions of foods have been shown to have more calories, sodium, and sugar than their regular gluten-containing counterparts, and often carry a higher price tag too.4 Real, whole grain foods are a better choice.

• Self treatment with a gluten-free diet messes up the blood test for celiac disease. Always speak with your doctor before making dietary changes.

• Self treatment with a gluten-free diet messes up the blood test for celiac disease. Always speak with your doctor before making dietary changes.

PEOPLE WHO AVOID GRAINS TEND TO BE LESS HEALTHY

Using national health survey data from 9,341 adults in Australia, researchers found that people avoiding grains were significantly more likely to be overweight or obese than those who eat grains, despite consuming fewer calories than grain eaters. Grain avoids also ate fewer fruits, vegetables and less fiber, and were more likely to have a higher BMI and waist size. Our advice: pick meals and snacks full of whole grains, fruits, vegetables and other real foods.

THE EARTH CAN’T SUPPORT A SHIFT FROM GRAINS TO OTHER FOODS (LIKE MEAT)

For millennia, grains have been one of the most important sources of food worldwide. Today, grains provide nearly 50% of global calories,6 and are some of the most earth-friendly foods to produce. Fruits and vegetables, while very nutritious, aren’t as energy dense as grains and are harder to grow, transport, and store for year-round enjoyment. So to make up the necessary calories in fruits and vegetables, much more food would have to be grown. Similarly, raising animals for meat production requires a substantial amount of land and water. For example, beef production uses 10.19 liters of water to produce 1 calorie of food, compared to only 2.09 liters per calorie of fruits, 1.34 liters per calorie of vegetables, and 0.51 liters per calorie of grains.7 Shifting diets away from grains and towards more energy-intensive foods puts an impossible burden on our planet’s precious resources.

CONVENIENT OPTIONS TO BECOMING A WHOLE GRAIN ENTHUSIAST

There are various options available in the market today both online and through brick and mortar retail shops. These provide a convenient option to mill our own flour on each meal basis, which not only provides maximum nutrition but also fantastic taste. These mills come in various options like hand operated manual flour mill, electricity operated flour mill, and solar power operated flour mill. Bring home a domestic flour mill today to reap the healthy benefits of whole grain meal after meal, every day.

12 Oct
Hawos Mill Heritage

Take a journey inside our mills

High-quality materials for the perfect finish and durability

A long lifespan is a number one priority for all hawos products, whether you choose wooden mills (solid wood or plywood) or colorful versions made of high-quality durable Makrolon poly-carbonate plastic. We place particular emphasis on ethical and ecological aspects when harvesting and processing wood. Our wood – birch and beech – is processed in a special-needs woodworking factory in Austria. Their dedication to detail and their enjoyment in being an active part in society can be seen in the exceptionally high quality they produce.

To a large extent it comes from PEFC certified forests in the surrounding region, which are used in accordance with the rules of sustainability and nature-orientated practices

We achieve a particularly high accuracy of fit with both our solid wood and plywood wood housings by using computer-controlled saws. Both versions have natural, vital surfaces, which are characteristic of wood and a delight for the senses. Our high-grade plywood housings are ideal for countries with unstable temperatures and humidity.

Many hawos mills are manufactured in a modular construction making them equally efficient and simple.

11 Oct
Hawos Mill Heritage

journey of our new Hawos Germany head office construction

On this page we keep you informed about our new building.

Background and construction planning Our new head office with office space, repair facilities, warehouse and underground parking is being built in the Massenheimer Weg in Bad Homburg, only a few hundred meters away from our current location. The planning for the new corporate headquarters has been going on for several years now.After many appointments with the authorities, architects and the general contractor, the third draft was finally approved!

In May 2015, the excavator finally kicked off, but not without encountering some surprises!Before the excavator could start its work on 2,100 square meters of area, a ground survey had to be prepared. These investigations revealed that archaeological findings were suspected. Construction freeze! An archeological team came on site with rakes and brushes and dug in the scorching summer heat.They found historic pieces of pottery from the time of the Romans, which was to be expected by the proximity to the Limes, as well as earth discolourations, which pointed to a settlement during the Celtics (up to 500 BC).

4. September 2015

The excavations are over! To celebrate, the newspaper ‘Taunus Zeitung’ (part of Frankfurter Neue Presse) has published a story on the history of our construction project so far.

The excavation is dredged. Pictured: Architect M. Raufenbarth, builder Ralf Pigge with wife Jutta and sons Sebastian, Johannes, Thomas and grandchild Taylor.
  • The building will be thiiiiiis big!Currently, it is still being investigated whether the floor can be compacted with posts or whether a thicker floor slab has to placed in order to provide the necessary load capacity. Due to this and results of the archaeological findings, the statisticians have to start all over again.
  • Finally it can continue! The foundation is dredged.
December 2015: The first snow. Winter is coming!
  • The foundations for a stable construction are laid and the insulation is ready. Now the concrete just needs to dry.
  • February 2016: Finally it Continues.230 tonnes of steel are processed.
  • April 2016: The first walls are put up for the basement and garage. Today the weather is not playing nice as it is raining.
  • The basement walls are standing. Now we can finally visualise the true dimensions of our new building.
  • and in the middle of it all: the freight elevator!
  • April 13, 2016. The prefabricated walls are filled with concrete through the “Crab-Arms”.
  • April 19, 2016 The support posts will hold the basement ceiling.
  • June 30, 2016 Preparations for the basement ceiling are complete. Now the ceiling can come.
  • 08. July 2016 The basement ceiling is being critically appraised by the specialists.
  • August 2017: The windows are fitted and the outer insulation is in progress. Delay caused by the storm on 1 August.The hail had destroyed 8 of the 36 automatically opening fire-safety windows on the roof!
  • As of August 2017: The first interior wall for the offices is installed.The pink color signifies the fire resistance code F 90.
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…