There are some things that you should never eat or drink. For example, some foods contain harmful substances that can cause serious health problems. Others are simply disgusting.
However, there are certain foods that you can eat without worrying about their impact on your health. These include raw fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.
You may be surprised to learn that these foods are actually good for you. Are you wondering whether raw flour is another one of these safe and nutritious foods? Keep reading to learn more.
Raw Flour: What Is It?
Raw flour is a type of grain that has not been processed in any way. This includes grinding the grain into flour, baking it, or cooking it.
Raw flour contains all of the nutrients found in other types of flour, but it also contains small amounts of gluten. Gluten is an elastic protein that gives dough its strength and structure.
Gluten-free flours are made from different kinds of grains, including corn, rice, oats, buckwheat, millet, sorghum, quinoa, amaranth, teff, and tapioca.
The most common gluten-free flours are rice, corn, oatmeal, and almond meal.
Can You Eat Raw Flour?
Yes, you can eat raw flour if you follow proper guidelines. First, make sure that the flour does not have added sugar, salt, or fat. If so, then you need to cook it before eating.
Second, avoid buying pre-packaged products because they often contain preservatives and artificial ingredients. Instead, buy raw flour directly from the manufacturer, and make sure they’re a reputable supplier, too.
The flour production process needs to have been squeaky clean if you’re going to eat it raw without getting ill.
Third, keep raw flour away from children and pets. They cannot handle the high levels of gluten found in this food.
Fourth, store raw flour in airtight containers. Make sure that the container is sealed tightly. Do not use plastic bags as they allow moisture to enter the flour.
Finally, do not eat too much raw flour at once. Consume only small portions of it per day.
How Much Should I Eat?
The amount of raw flour that you consume depends on several factors. For example, how old are you? How active are you? How much weight do you want to lose?
If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, you should limit yourself to two tablespoons (15 grams) of raw flour daily. If you are older than 40 years of age, you should eat no more than three tablespoons (25 grams).
If you are overweight, you should try to reduce your intake of raw flour by half. In fact, many people who are trying to lose weight find that consuming less than 25 grams of raw flour each day helps them achieve their goals faster.
Who Shouldn’t Eat Raw Flour?
People with celiac disease should not eat raw flour. Celiac disease is a digestive disorder that damages the villi inside the intestines.
Villi are tiny fingerlike projections that help absorb nutrients from food. When damaged, they prevent the body from absorbing vital nutrients such as vitamins and minerals.
Celiac disease affects approximately 1% of the population. Symptoms usually appear after someone eats gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and some other grains.
What About Allergic Reactions?
Some people develop allergic reactions when they consume raw flour. Symptoms include hives, itching, swelling, and difficulty breathing.
People with celiac disease, which causes severe damage to the digestive tract lining, should avoid raw flour completely. Those with wheat allergies should also avoid it.
Is There Any Risk Of Getting Sick From Eating Raw Flour?
Food agencies do warn that raw flour could contain harmful bacteria such as E.Coli, but only if it was picked up at an early stage of the grains’ harvesting and storage.
The process of grinding grain into flour does absolutely nothing to eliminate these nasty hitchhikers. Only cooking it at extreme temperatures will get the job done.
So, while there’s nothing in raw flour itself that can make you ill (although some people experience gastrointestinal discomfort after eating it), it can play host to nasty bacteria that can give you a serious case of food poisoning.
Raw Flour: Health Benefits
You may be surprised to learn that eating raw flour has several health benefits. These include:
- • Improves digestion
- • Lowers cholesterol
- • Helps control blood pressure
- • Reduces stress
- • Increases energy
- • Promotes healthy skin
- • Boosts immune system
- • Supports brain function
- • Builds strong bones
- • Prevents cancer
- • Lowers blood glucose
- • Protects against heart disease
- • May help prevent diabetes
- • Provides fiber
- • Contains antioxidants
- • Can replace refined white flour
- • Is low in calories
- • Contains vitamins
Are There Risks To Eating Raw Flour?
Eating raw flour may cause some risks, including:
- • Digestive problems
- • Skin rashes
- • Allergies
- • Anemia
- • Weight gain
- • Constipation
- • Bloating
- • Nausea
- • Diarrhea
- • Heartburn
- • Stomach cramps
- • Bad breath
- • Muscle aches
If you eat raw flour, and you start experiencing any symptoms such as these, stop eating it immediately. Contact your doctor for advice.
Gluten-Free Raw Flour
Many people have trouble digesting gluten. Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, rye, barley, spelt, and oats. It can trigger an autoimmune reaction called celiac disease.
However, if you are sensitive to gluten, you may still benefit from consuming raw flour. Therefore, you just need to make sure that you buy products labeled “gluten-free.”
Raw Flour Or Normal Flour?
Raw flour or cooked flour – which is best? That’s up to you! Some people prefer to use raw flour because it contains nutrients that are not destroyed during cooking.
Other people like to cook their foods, so they know exactly what they’re consuming.
The truth is, both options are good for you. Just choose one over the other based on personal preference.
Final Thoughts
Raw flour may not be your first choice of food, but the truth is, there are many benefits to eating it, including improved digestion, lowered cholesterol, decreased blood pressure, and more.
So as long as it’s safe for you to eat raw flour, why not give it a go?
Through Addicted To Veggies, I want to share with you my favorite raw recipes. From brownie recipes, to recipes containing pumpkin, my site is full of delicious and wonderful options to consider.
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