The Health Benefits of Sprouted Flour

What are the health benefits of sprouted flour? I've written about the problems of phytic acid in grains and its negative effect on health. Unless you are eating your grains soaked, sprouted, or soured, they can be causing much more harm than good.

That said, sprouting flour can transform an unhealthy food – and for some folks, a dangerous toxin – into a healthy, nutrient dense choice. Here's an explanation from my favorite sprouted flour company…

The health benefits of sprouted flour:

Easier to digest – Sprouting breaks down the starches in grains into simple sugars so your body can digest them like a vegetable (like a tomato, not a potato).
Increased vitamin C – Sprouting produces vitamin C.
Increased vitamin B – Sprouting increases the vitamin B content (B2, B5, and B6).
Increased carotene – Sprouting increases the carotene up to eight times.
Increased enzymes are actually produced during sprouting.
Reduction of anti-nutrients – Sprouting neutralizes enzyme inhibitors and phytic acid, which is a substance present in the bran of all grains that inhibits absorption of calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and zinc.

Until the 20th century, grain naturally sprouted in the field before it was milled into flour. The invention of the combine harvester during the Industrial Revolution changed everything. Grain could be harvested in the field and then moved to storage bins. The time-honored practice of sprouting was cast aside for modern processing.

Unfortunately, nutrition was also cast aside. When whole grains are not allowed to ferment or sprout, they don't contain the nutrients that sprouted whole grains do. And they retain the naturally occurring antinutrients, even when milled into flour.

To Your Health Sprouted Flour Co. has returned to the traditional practice of sprouting grains in order to render them more nutritious and digestible. However, we don't leave our grains out in the field to sprout. We nurture the grains in our facility, allow them to sprout, then dry them at a very low temperature, to maintain precious vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.

By all means you can sprout and grind your own flour, but who's got time for that?!?