Is Flour Plant Based?

Name any food eaten every day and the base is often flour. When you switch to a new diet, you often wonder whether the ingredients you use in your daily diet can still be consumed. Flour can be several types depending on the grains used. Let us try to learn more about using flour on a plant-based diet. 

So, is flour plant-based? Yes, flour is plant based. Flour is generally made by grinding cereals and grains to produce a powder form that works for several recipes. As these grains and cereals are plant-based and no other ingredients are added, it is easy to say that flour is plant-based.

Let us try to learn more about flour and its ingredients to find out whether it is a good fit for your plant-based diet. 

Why Flour Is Plant Based?

Flour is made by grinding the grains of different plants to result in a powdery material that can be used as an ingredient in various foods. Flour made out of wheat is the most common though it can come from a variety of other grains and foods. 

Flour made from cereals is either whole grain or refined but the purest form is simply crushed plants which is why it is plant-based. However, sometimes, companies add some animal-derived products to improve the quality and life of flour. It is, therefore, important that you check the ingredients list to make sure the flour you buy is plant-based. 

What Are The Main Ingredients in Flour?

Flour, in its pure form, is nothing but the powder of cereals and other foods. While the basic flour used for baking and cooking is made out of wheat, it can come from other grains like barley, millet, corn, rice, oats as well as almonds, banana, coconut, potatoes, chickpeas and others. All these vary in flavor and consistency depending on the source used. 

Flour can be either whole grain which contains the bran, germ and endosperm parts of the grain or can be refined, containing only the endosperm. It generally has no other ingredients added. However, some flour varieties have been fortified with vitamins and minerals while others are treated with preservatives to increase their life. 

Flour Nutrition

Flour is an essential part of an everyday diet and serves the basis of daily protein, carbohydrates, fiber and important nutrients. It is also low in cholesterol and fat and provides the energy needed for different body functions. While whole grain wheat flour is healthier than refined flour, there are some other varieties of flour generally consumed for their high protein content and low calorie count. 

Let us look at the nutritional profile of some common varieties of flour.

Flour variety	All-Purpose	Whole Wheat	Semolina	Almond
Calories	455	408	601	640
Carbs	95.4	86	122	24
Protein	12.9	16	21	24
Fiber	3.4	13	7	12
Fat	1.2	3	1.8	5

The above information is for one cup each of the flour and the nutrition measurements are in grams. Apart from these nutrients, the flour contains niacin, selenium, riboflavin, thiamin in varying amounts. It is also a good source of iron, copper, zinc, phosphorus and other minerals. 

Conclusion

So, flour is an important part of a plant-based diet and can be added to daily meals without any problem. You can choose different flour varieties based on the application and dietary needs. Try to use whole grain flour instead of refined flour as much as possible to keep the recipes healthy.