Plain Flour Nutrition Benefits and Facts

Nutritional summary

Plain flour is a refined grain that has been stripped of the bran and germ during the milling process, which results in lower levels of fibre and micronutrients compared to whole grains .
Consumption of refined grains like white flour is a characteristic of Western-type dietary patterns, which are often calorie-dense and have a high glycemic load (a measure of how quickly a food raises blood glucose levels) .
Unlike whole grains, which are consistently linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, refined grains do not show the same protective health benefits in systematic reviews .
Dietary guidelines generally recommend replacing refined grain products with whole grains to improve diet quality and reduce the risk of chronic disease .

Interesting fact

The term 'plain' refers to the absence of chemical leavening agents like baking powder, which distinguishes it from self-raising flour.

Standout nutrients

GREAT

SOURCE

Molybdenum

ACE

SOURCE

Manganese

GREAT

SOURCE

Thiamin (Vitamin B1)

GREAT

SOURCE

Dietary fibre

337

kcal per 100g

Protein11.1g

Fat1.37g

Carbs70.9g

Fiber4.17g

Sugar0.56g

Fat breakdown

Polyunsat0.62g

Monounsat0.15g

Saturated0.32g

Seasonality

Not available

Diet

VeganVegetarianPescatarianDairy FreeLow Fodmap

Sustainability

Lighter footprint

Wheat is a relatively low-emission crop, though industrial milling and transport contribute to its footprint.

Confidencemedium

Storage

Airtight Container

6–12 months

Store in a cool, dry place to prevent moisture absorption and pests.

Keep Dry

6–12 months

Flavour

Data & Sources

Harmonized from 4 validated sources

French Food Database

1 contributing source food

Phenol-Explorer

1 contributing source food

Swiss Food Database

3 contributing source foods

McCance & Widdowson

1 contributing source food

Claim citations

Developing a Standard Definition of Whole-Grain Foods for Dietary Recommendations: Summary Report of a Multidisciplinary Expert Roundtable Discussion - PMC

[4]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Whole Grains, Refined Grains, and Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review of Meta-Analyses of Observational Studies - PMC

[7]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Defining a Healthy Diet: Evidence for the Role of Contemporary ...

[11]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[PDF] Healthy Living Guide 2020-2021 - The Nutrition Source

[12]nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu

Coverage

Nutrients

FoodCompass

44.4

Version

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