Almond flour has emerged as a good alternative for a gluten-free diet and paleo cooking.Almond flour can be effectively used in the place of wheat flour. This flour has low carb values, a wide variety of nutrients, and a sweet taste of nuts.We know that, in the preparation of many types of non-baked and baked foods, like pasta, pancakes, cookies, breads, and many more, different types of flours are used to give flavor. Wheat is among the most common flours used by households in the whole world, but for a few people who are allergic to wheat and require different flour choices, almond flour is a healthy and popular alternative. Because of being gluten-free, having a nutty flavor, and high nutrient content (protein, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin E), almond flour is a good alternative for those who are diagnosed with celiac disease and also for those who have high blood sugar levels. Almond flour is best known for its use in the keto diet.Almond flour, almond butter, and almond milk are made from ground almonds and are high in calories with less fiber content. During this process, almonds first get blanched in hot water to easily remove their skin. After that, they get put into a grinder to convert them into fine flour. Almond flour and almond meal often get confused as being the same. People frequently use their names interchangeably. The key difference is in their preparation; almond meal is prepared by keeping the skins. This makes it a thick flour, and so it is also used as a thickening agent. Apart from almond flour, coconut flour is also used because of its good nutritional value and rich flavor.Are you interested in knowing the benefits of almonds? If so, you can also read our almond oil nutrition facts and almond milk nutrition facts on our website.Almond flour: how is it made?To make your own almond flour, you need to have skinned and blanched almonds, which often go by the name of slivered almonds. You can also use whole raw almonds. You need to remember that one oz (28.34 g) of whole almonds yields up to ¼ cup of almond flour.If you have raw almonds, to blanch them, take a large pot of water and boil it. When the water boils to an appropriate temperature, put the almonds into the bowl and continue to boil it for another one or two minutes. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then rinse the almonds with cold water so that you can handle them after. After this, the skin of the almonds will easily come off, and you can discard it. After peeling the skin, you can either use a clean and dry towel or various layers of clean paper to let them sit on it and dry. You should leave them overnight, but a few hours will also do a good job. Now, put these dry almonds into a food processor and pulse till they attain a powder form or a sand-like structure.Almond Flour Vs. Wheat Flour DifferencesThe carb content of wheat flour is much higher than that of almond flour. But almond flour has a very high-fat content, which makes it higher in calories. Almond flour is incredibly nutritious, which is compensation for its high-fat content.Just by having one oz (28.34 g) of almond flour, you will have enough vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, and fiber for an entire day’s need. White flour is not gluten-free, which makes it difficult for people who have celiac disease or are highly wheat intolerant. You can also replace wheat flour with almond flour in baking in a ratio of 1:1, but baked products made with almond flour are denser and flatter because of the lack of gluten. Wheat flour contains phytic acid, which hinders the absorption of other nutrients from different foods. This antinutrient binds with minerals like calcium, zinc, iron, and magnesium to reduce their absorption rate in the stomach. The skin of almonds has a high content of phytic acid, but its flour does not, as the almonds are blanched to make flour. People also are using coconut flour as a healthy alternative to add flavor to their food and have low carbs.Almond Flour Health BenefitsThe quantity of minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins in almond flour is very important for health. The manganese present in flour helps in clotting blood properly, which helps in the speedy recovery of injuries. It also helps in the easy breakdown of cholesterol and carbohydrates. Magnesium present in almond flour helps in maintaining good blood sugar levels.Almond flour has high monosaturated fat that helps in keeping your cholesterol level under control. Reducing your cholesterol level decreases the risk of heart attacks. According to research, women who ate 1.76 oz (50 g) almonds daily had lower cholesterol levels compared to women who did not eat them at all. Compared to other standard flours, almond flour has very low carbohydrates and sugar levels. Using almond flour as an alternative to wheat flour helps in controlling diabetes too. Almond flour has prebiotic dietary fiber in large amounts and also helps in maintaining a slim waistline for those who want to lose some weight.Almond Flour Nutritional Profile Per ServingThe use of almond flour instead of wheat flour is still doubted by many. Though they both look almost the same, the nutrient profile present in almond flour is far better than regular wheat flour.In a quarter-cup serving of almond flour, there are 170 calories, 0.52 oz (15 g) of fat, 0.03 oz (one g) of saturated fat, 0.84 oz (24 g) of protein, 0.21 oz (six g) of total carbs, 0.07 oz (two g) of fiber, 0.03 oz (one g) of sugar, 0.0023 oz (66 mg) of calcium, 0.006 oz (190 mg) of potassium and very low levels of sodium and iron.The nutritional values of almonds are well known and highly impressive. One of the best factors about consuming almond flour is that this flour is just ground-up almonds, so the flour retains all the values of the raw almonds, plus it does not contain any added preservatives. One cup of almond flour has approximately 90 almonds, which are sufficient to fulfill your daily need for vitamin E. This type of flour can be used in a lot of cuisines, baked goods, and dishes and is super versatile. This flour has a potent punch of nutrients, which is not like some gluten-rich and overly-processed, regular flour that adds nothing to your well-being or your health.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for almond flour nutrition facts, then why not take a look at 33 mind-blowing 1950s fashion facts or 25 interesting 2NE1 facts for K-pop music video lovers?
Almond flour has emerged as a good alternative for a gluten-free diet and paleo cooking.
