Flour Versus Grain

I don't exactly understand why whole grain flour is inferior to the grain itself - isn't it just a matter of crushing the grain verus not crushing it? Isn't the same good stuff still there?

Thanks.

[Ilanit]

of course wholegrain flour is preferably to refined flour - hands down.
Freshly ground flour is even better as flour oxidises not long after it is ground.
I love grinding flour fresh and using it right away. There are some awesome grain mills available on this site.
If I dont use it all right away then I store it in the fridge or the freezer.

the question though is the difference between flour and wholegrain....try to plant some flour and see what happens!

wholegrains contain not only the nutrition but also the life force - that is the difference....

it is still relatively intact - even though rice is jusked and millet is hulled etc it is still in a form where the life force of the plant is relatively intact and perhaps imparts that vitality to those who consume it.

some people find grains in their whole form if properly prepared - less mucus forming than in the flour form.

some people notice a difference between flour products that are baked - like bread and those that are boiled - like noodles in their reactions. Some don't!

sourdough bread seems to be the most balanced baked food as the sourdough culture changes the sturcture and properties of the flour and makes it wonderfully digestable. you can check out the instructions to make your own sourdough bread at my website

www.littletree.com.au

it is really fun to make!

what is your experience?

ilanit

well, thanks for the reply. it makes sense to me that the life force is destroyed when the grain is ripped apart but i figured that all the nutrients are still there - so why the taboo?

still, my experience tells me (though im a very recent newcomer into eating grains) that eating the grain is entirely different from the flour. its much lighter, less filling, also less concentrated with yang? i suppose. i find that i enjoy it much more.

honestly i think ive been eating too "heavy" of foods during my life. whether sweet candies or cooked meals id often feel overwhelmed after the meal and either have to nap or do something to 'recover' for an hour or two. eating macrobiotically seems to have such a little impact on my mood. im really enjoying it.

thanks .. i'll look into the sourdough bread too.
ta-ta

Yes whole grains are definitely much more fulfilling than flours.
From Macrobiotic books I've read one said that the reason WWI and WWII started and mainly took place in Europe is because there, people live mostly on flour products that are frequently refined (i.e.pizza crusts, noodles, muffins, bread, as well as cookies and cake), while In Asia people eat mostly whole grains. With all the pounding, smashing and crushing it takes to make whole grains into flour, well the Europeans were much more into pounding, smashing, and crushing each other due to the diets they were on. In Asia they had a larger picture of life and the fulfillments they found were much different due to the relatively small amount of that pounding, smashing , and crushing to the grains that they ate that they did compared to Europeans. Eating their rice whole made them feel more united. I must admit that refining the rice and taking out the main nutrients I think started leading to their downfalls around 100 years ago or so.
But if the whole world can start to eat whole grains again as their main food, just think of the peace that would arise in this world.

[Blue Dolfin]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

With all the pounding, smashing and crushing it takes to make whole grains into flour, well the Europeans were much more into pounding, smashing, and crushing each other due to the diets they were on. In Asia they had a larger picture of life and the fulfillments they found were much different due to the relatively small amount of that pounding, smashing, and crushing to the grains that they ate that they did compared to Europeans. Eating their rice whole made them feel more united.

Then I guess we need to watch out for people who eat mochi!