Almond Flour – The Healthy Alternative
The only difference between Almond Flour and Almond Meal is that almond flour is made from skinned almonds, whereas almond meal kept its skins on. It’s easy to remember because almond flour is lighter to look at, as it wasn’t darkened by their skins. Both the meal and flour are made by grinding up almonds. It is actually a very easy process to make both types yourself at home.
There’s nothing safer than preparing food yourself at home. Use a blender or food processor at home for your almond needs and you’ll never have to worry about cross contamination from a manufacturing facility. The only thing to remember when grinding your own almond flour and meal is to be extremely diligent about watching how long you grind them. If you go to text a friend you’re going to end up with overly ground almonds, which is actually almond butter. Impress your friends and children, while grinding away and tell them you are blanching the almonds, which is the actual cooking term for what you’re doing.
Almond meal is best used for a dryer desired result, like for pancakes. Almond flour, in contrast, is best used for foods which need finer and moister texture such as cakes, cookies and other pastries. However, it is difficult to use almond meal for breads, at least, as the amateur I am, I find it difficult to make bread with it. Like all gluten free flours almond flour and meal works best in combination with other flours such as potato flour or rice flour. Always adding Xanthan gum, which is a sticky substance that replaces partially the gluten found in wheat flours.
So why use almond meal or flour?
Almond flours could be found in Europe all the way back to the Middle Ages. People in extravagant hats were using it was an alternative to wheat flour even back then. It was “rediscovered” with the increase in Celiac Diseases and has been fondly embraced by the modern baseball cap wearing age. Almonds are good for you. Period. Since both almond meal and flour are gluten free, high in protein, low in carbohydrates and also low in sugar there’s nothing to hold you back from trying them. They also have many health benefits and they include essential nutrients like iron, calcium, magnesium, vitamin E and fiber. If there ever was a superfood, this is it!
Also, most of almond fat is unsaturated fat. If you were to eat them regularly it could help lower your cholesterol levels and thus heart diseases. Almonds also contain folic acid and it’s believed that this helps to lower levels of homocystein, the amino acid that is thought to contribute to the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries.
A huge bonus is that there are studies which link almonds and other consumption of nuts with lowering the risk of diabetes, Alzheimer diseases, cancer and many more diseases. So by using almond flour and meal, you’re actually making your future brighter and healthier!
You can find both Almond Flour and Meal at your local health food store, such as Trader Joe’s, Mother’s Market or Whole Foods. If that’s not convenient enough for you, try ordering them online from one of these distributors.
Companies which sell Almond Flour and Almond Meal?
Fun Fresh Foods, Honeyville, Now Foods, Lucy’s Kitchen Shop, Shiloh Farms, Bobs Red Mill, etc.
Life is about trying new things and almonds are a lot safer and better for your than say, wrestling alligators, so enjoy them and enjoy your improved health!
Martina Berger, PhD is the mother of a boy with Gluten Intolerance. She created this websitefor families who are also looking for a Gluten Free Lifestyle.Click here if you want to read more.
Tags: allergies, almond flour, gluten free baking, gluten free flour, gluten intolerance, health, Nutrition
July 27 2012 05:33 pm | Nutrition