BENEFITS OF USING BLACK WHEAT FLOUR
Black wheat flour is a gluten-free, greyish-black flour variety that is derived by processing the seeds of the black wheat plant, a variety that was developed in a lab in Mohali, Punjab, under the aegis of the Government of India. It’s named so because it is rich in the pigment called “Anthocyanin”, which also gives fruits and vegetables their blue, black, red, or purple colors. These also function as naturally occurring antioxidants that develop in a field at the time of grain filling, hence packing the wheat with a lot of nutritional value. Black wheat is enriched with 28 times more anthocyanins than the conventional wheat varieties!
The main nutritional components of this super-food are:
Anthocyanins
Antioxidants
High in Iron
Gluten-free, thus suitable for those allergic to gluten
Vitamins- Infused with vitamins such as Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and B9.
Minerals include zinc, selenium, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, and phosphorus.
Good sources of Amino Acids, that aid in tissue formation and body-building.
Folic acid
Dietary fibers
HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM CONVENTIONAL WHITE WHEAT?
The main difference between these two wheat lines lies in the anthocyanin concentration that they carry.
Regular wheat has a 5 ppm (parts-per-million) concentration of anthocyanin, whereas black wheat grain is observed to have approximately 100-200ppm of anthocyanin. This makes it a wiser, healthier option because a greater amount of antioxidants help flush the body of harmful toxins and free radicals, thus boosting the body’s overall health and functioning.
Additionally, while regular wheat carries 28% zinc content, black wheat is packed with 35% more of it, thus enhancing the body’s immune and metabolic functioning significantly. Similarly, conventional wheat varieties have about 25% iron content, but black wheat carries 60% more iron- this enormously boosts both our haemoglobin and hormone-related functions in the body.
Conventional Wheat
Anthocyanin Content: 5 ppm
Zinc content: 28%
Iron: 25%
Black Wheat
Anthocyanin Content: 140 ppm (100-200 ppm)
Zinc content: 35% more
Iron: 60% more
Apart from black wheat being more readily and easily digestible than conventional white wheat, it also carries more protein content, dietary fiber, calcium, Vitamin K, total flavonoid (TFC) and total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activity than the regular wheat.
The TPC of black wheat is comparatively six times higher, with ferulic acid occupying the largest share in its TPC count. Ferulic acid multiplies the effects of other antioxidants and is especially good for the skin for reducing fine lines, spots and wrinkles.
BENEFITS ARE A PLENTY!
With so many powerful nutrients and other components in its belly, black wheat flour consequently delivers just as many health benefits when consumed on a daily level as a part of a healthy diet. Some key health benefits it offers are:
1. Combats many types of health issues
When taken in higher amounts, Anthocyanin, a powerful anti-oxidant, safeguards against inflammatory disease, and treats high blood pressure, cold, urinary tract infections, and heart diseases. It also maintains cholesterol levels and blood sugar metabolism in diabetic patients. And according to some researches, it also controls obesity.
2. Enhanced immunity
With more antioxidants than regular wheat present in it, black wheat flour maintains our antibodies and keeps the harmful free radicals under check. They further give protection against DNA damage and lipid peroxidation. Since it also has high anti-inflammatory properties, it multiplies the production of cytokines- small proteins that regulate our immune responses.
3. Supports eye function
Lack of correct nutrition due to insufficient intake of Anthocyanin can cause night blindness. Black wheat, just like the black currant fruit, is helpful in minimizing the chances of vision loss and any damage due to free radicals.
4. Effective for Heart Problems.
Black wheat is composed of unsaturated fatty acids that are perfect for keeping the heart healthy. So, those who are prone to experiencing heart disorders or other cardiovascular troubles can include this super grain in their daily diet. Additionally, it keeps under check the risk of stroke and other cardiac issues.
5. Controls Stress Levels
Since it is rich in antioxidants, it helps in relieving stress and mental fatigue.
6. Boon for Weight Loss
It has a high amount of dietary fiber that keeps the stomach full and curbs undesirable cravings. Since it also has a low-fat content, which exists in its unsaturated form, black wheat flour is ideal for fitness enthusiasts.
7. Relieves Constipation
Its rich fiber content is ideal for facilitating optimum digestion and keeping constipation and other gastro-intestinal maladies at bay. And since it also reduces unwanted cravings, issues such as constipation have greatly reduced chances of occurring.
8. Reduces cholesterol and triglycerides
It is packed with amino acids, which works wonders for bringing down cholesterol levels by eliminating extra fat from the liver. It is also beneficial for people having high triglycerides in their blood. Since it controls these two factors, this further helps keep blood pressure under watch, boosting overall heart health.
10. Helps Prevent Cancer
It helps regenerate the affected cells in cancer patients, and its consistent consumption also brings down the chances of cancer cells spreading in the body.
11. Enhances skin health
The total phenolic content (TPC) of black wheat is comparatively six times higher, with ferulic acid occupying the largest share in its TPC count. Ferulic acid multiplies the effects of other antioxidants and is thus especially good for the skin for reducing fine lines, spots, and wrinkles.
HOW TO INCLUDE IT IN YOUR DAILY DIET?
A wonderful superfood with endless nutritional benefits and boons, black wheat flour can be used as a substitute in almost all such food items that have white flour, maida, besan, or any other such item as its base. Thus, it can be easily used to make uttapams, chillas, cookies, idlis, and rotis. Even for dessert, the black wheat halwa can be both a game and taste changer, and for good!
