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When you are in a market or supermarket, you will be exposed to various types of flour. Currently, there are various types of flour available for cooking. Starting from wheat flour, rice flour, to starch. Have you ever wondered, from all kinds of flour, which one is the healthiest for you and your family? So that you can choose wisely, consider the following information.
Wheat flour
This type of flour is most commonly found because of its versatility. Wheat flour is made from milled wheat kernels until they have a smooth texture. The color of wheat flour is usually pure white. Because it is made from wheat, wheat flour is rich in carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals. However, for those of you who are allergic to gluten (a type of protein contained in wheat) you should avoid wheat flour. The reason is, this type of flour contains a lot of gluten when compared to other flours.
Wheat flour
Wheat flour (whole wheat flour) is a type of flour that is most similar to wheat. Both are made from ground wheat. The difference between these two types of flour is the part of the wheat that is processed. Wheat flour is made only from wheat meat (the endosperm part) which has been cleaned of wheat bran and essence. Meanwhile, wheat flour is made from whole grains (whole wheat) starting from the skin, endosperm, and the essence.
Because it is made from all parts of wheat, the nutrients and properties of wheat flour are richer than wheat flour. You will find lots of fiber, vitamins, minerals, calcium and protein in this type of flour. However, it has a rougher texture and is more brownish than wheat flour.
Although wheat flour is healthier than wheat flour, those of you who have a gluten allergy are still not advised to eat wheat flour. This type of flour is not gluten free. However, it does contain less gluten because wheat flour is more nutritious than wheat flour.
Rice flour
If wheat flour and wheat flour are made from wheat kernels, rice flour is made from ground rice. This type of flour, also known as glutinous rice flour, can be an alternative for those of you who are allergic to gluten or have Celiac disease. The reason is, rice flour has a gluten load.
However, because it is made from rice, this flour contains more calories than wheat-based flour. In a cup of rice flour the calories reach 578. While wheat flour only contains 400 calories. Even though the calories are higher, the fat content of rice flour remains low, the same as other types of flour.
When compared to wheat flour and wheat flour, rice flour is lower in fiber, vitamins, protein and minerals. Rice flour is superior in carbohydrate content. Carbohydrates are a good source of energy. However, consuming too many carbohydrates can have a negative impact on your blood sugar levels.
Starch
There are many names for starch in Indonesia. Some of them are tapioca and aci flour. Starch is made from cassava starch and tastes a little sweet. Just like rice flour, this type of flour is gluten-free.
Compared to rice flour, starch contains fewer carbohydrates and calories. A cup of rice flour contains 400 calories or the equivalent of wheat flour. The carbohydrate content is also quite low, which is about 100 grams a cup while rice flour contains 127 grams of carbohydrates a cup.
You may be tempted to choose starch over rice flour. However, what needs to be remembered is the nature of starch which is very strong in binding water and other substances. Starch will make the dough very sticky and thick. Meanwhile, rice flour will only soften and compact the dough. So, in addition to considering the nutritional content, you also need to choose the type of flour that suits your cooking needs.
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