Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Wendy Cohan, RN
    Wendy Cohan, RN

    Nutritional Content of Gluten-Free Alternative Grains and Flours

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.

    Celiac.com 10/02/2008 - Whole grains are good sources of B-Vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, and selenium, but one of their most important nutritional benefits is the fiber they bring to our diets.  Whole grains such as wheat, brown rice, and oats include both soluble and insoluble fiber.  Soluble fiber is easy to remember – it is water soluble, and as such can be assimilated into the body, where it plays an important role in blood sugar regulation and cholesterol balance.   Soluble fiber also helps provide a sense of fullness or satiety.  Insoluble fiber is - you guessed it - insoluble in water, and is not assimilated into the body, but passes through the digestive tract and is eliminated.  That does not mean insoluble fiber has a less important nutritional role to play.  Insoluble fiber is very important in keeping our digestive and elimination systems regular.  Fiber aids the transit of toxic substances out of the body, and in doing so, helps to reduce the incidence of colon and rectal cancers.

    In eliminating gluten grains from your diet, have you wondered what you are missing nutritionally?  Are you able to get adequate replacements for the nutrients in wheat, barley, rye, and oats, from the other nutritional components of your diet?  The answer is a qualified yes.  We know this on several levels.  For tens of thousands of years, entire cultures have thrived without growing or consuming any of the gluten grains.  We also know, from looking at what nutrients gluten grains provide, that there are more than adequate sources of these nutrients in alternative grains, and from vegetable sources.  Fiber is something we do need to be aware of, though.  Studies have shown that standard gluten-free diets are low in fiber, especially when baking with the “white” alternative products like white or sweet rice flour, tapioca starch, and potato starch.  We can remedy this by eating alternative grains in whole, unprocessed states, and by including nuts, seeds, and other sources of fiber such as dried coconut and legumes in our diets.  Wheat is an excellent source of Vitamin E, so those on gluten-free diets might want to supplement with a good brand of Vitamin E.

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A12):
    Some commercial gluten-free flour blends seek to duplicate white flour, and are made primarily of white rice flour, tapioca starch, and potato starch (see the nutrition comparisons on the next page).  These products are nearly devoid of nutrition and contain almost no fiber.  Using these types of products result in baked goods that are the nutritional equivalent of wonder-bread.  If you didn’t eat wonder-bread before going gluten-free, why should you attempt to duplicate it now?  When making your flour blends, coming up with new recipes, and altering traditional wheat-flour recipes, try to include alternative grain products (and sometimes nut flours) that contain substantial amounts of fiber, protein, calcium, and iron, all nutrients found in whole grains, but in much smaller amounts in highly processed grains.  Quinoa, sorghum, teff, amaranth, brown rice and millet flour are all good products to try.

    See the chart attached to this article (the link to it is in the "Attachments" section below) for the nutrient content of the many gluten-free alternative grains, starches, and nut flours.  The highest levels of nutrients in each category are noted, and you can see what nutritional powerhouses grains like teff, quinoa, sorghum, and amaranth are compared to white rice flour, tapioca starch, and potato starch.  



    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments



    Guest Karen Norman

    Posted

    Thank you, I really appreciate your articles!

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Michael Shepard

    Posted

    Very useful overview that should help guide readers toward a better diet. The chart would be better if it included wheat for comparison.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Linda Russell

    Posted

    This is very good to know. I can now substitute flours as I see fit to keep my husband in better shape.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Jeff

    Very good information, but I would like to hear more. What are the best sources for soluble and insoluble fiber? I assume that the flax seed that I take is insoluble fiber.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest suzanne Durland

    Posted

    Wonderful information all in one place, thank you.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Christine Levine

    Posted

    I appreciated the article. When I first started on a gluten free diet, I tried using cookbooks that used many ingredients like white rice flour and potato starch. I thought most of them tasted like they were missing the wallpaper. Since then, I have been using a lot of sorghum and brown rice flour - they work much better and taste more like what I used to eat.

     

    I wish there were cookbooks available that included more than just a small handful of the alternative grains.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Sally

    Posted

    Great information. So many of the prepackaged gluten-free flour mixes contain only the brown rice for extra fiber and protein. I know mixing in the others was better and tastier---but having the comparison chart was very helpful.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest fiona

    Thanks, Have just started going gluten free and was looking for just such an article.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Rose Hilgartner

    Posted

    I wish they would provide a nutritional chart of all the gluten free flours, so you can figure the calories and nutrition of homemade foods all in one small chart.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Debbie Eads

    Posted

    I'm happy to find your site as I am just starting on a gluten free diet. I've always loved whole grain wheat and have been a bread lover. I have GERD and I am gluten intolerant. It seems I have trouble too with high fat foods. Thank you for this information, I 'm looking forward to learning from it.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Viv
    Very useful overview that should help guide readers toward a better diet. The chart would be better if it included wheat for comparison.

    Yes I agree. A comparison to what we need to exclude would be great!

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Denise Bu

    The article states: "See the chart attached to this article (the link to it is in the "Attachments" section below) for the nutrient content of the many gluten-free alternative grains, starches, and nut flours."  I've searched and cannot find this information.  Would you please send the attachment link directly to my e-mail please.  denise.cares@yahoo.com

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate
  • About Me

    Wendy Cohan, RN

    An RN for 14 years, I have been following a strict gluten-free diet for six years of improving health! Now I help others as a Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance Educator. I work one on one with people on meal planning, shopping, cooking and dining out gluten-free. I will also work with children who have behavioral issues related to gluten or other food sensitivities. 


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Related Articles

    Scott Adams
    The following was written by Donald D. Kasarda who is a research chemist in the Crop Improvement and Utilization Research Unit of the United States Department of Agriculture. If you have any questions or comments regarding the piece, you can address them to Don at: Open Original Shared Link.
    Most sprouted wheat still has gluten or gluten peptides remaining. Although the sprouting begins enzymatic action that starts to break down the gluten (a storage protein for the plant) into peptides and even amino acids. Generally this is not a complete process for sprouts used in foods so some active peptides (active in celiac disease) remain.


    Danna Korn
    Unique Gluten-Free Grains
    -Yes, there’s more to life than rice and corn!
    Variety, it’s been said, is the spice of life.  So what’s a person to do when they’re told to eliminate wheat and/or gluten from their diet?  Most turn to rice, corn, and potatoes—an adequate set of starches, but ones that are sorely lacking in nutrients, flavor, and imagination.
    The superheroes of gluten-free grains are often referred to as “ancient” or alternative grains, which are loaded with nutrients and unique, interesting flavors.  The following is a condensed excerpt from my newly published book, Wheat-Free, Worry-Free: The Art of Happy, Healthy, Gluten-Free Living.
    “Alternative” Grains: The Superheroes of Gluten-Free Grains
    If you’re an adventuresome eater, you’re in for a treat.  In searching for altern...


    Tina Turbin
    Celiac.com 08/31/2010 - In my work as an author, researcher, and gluten-free advocate, I know how challenging the gluten-free diet can be. One of the most vital and tricky parts of the diet is learning what foods have gluten and which are "naturally" gluten-free as well as learning how to read labels. Unfortunately, these aren't always enough. Just because a grain is supposed to be "naturally" gluten-free, doesn't mean that it is. In fact, a recent study tested 22 so-called "inherently" gluten-free grains and found that over thirty percent of them had gluten.
    Gluten is a protein found in the grains wheat, barley, and rye, and is inherently lacking in grains such as oats, buckwheat, quinoa, millet, soy, sorghum, flaxseed, rice, and amaranth seed. A study tested 22 of these "naturally"...


    Jefferson Adams
    Buckwheat Flour Significantly Improves the Nutrition and Texture of Gluten-free Breads
    Celiac.com 10/05/2012 - Buckwheat flour significantly improves the nutrition and texture in gluten-free breads, according to a new study published in the journal Food Hydrocolloids. The study examines the role of buckwheat and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) in making gluten-free breads.
    The researchers point out that the food industry has cleared numerous formulation hurdles associated with removing gluten from dough, and created numerous new gluten-free products. However, they add, many gluten-free breads are still made with pure starches, "resulting in low technological and nutritional quality."
    The research team included M. Mariotti, M. Ambrogina Pagani and M. Lucisano. They are affiliated with the Department of Food Science and Technology and Microbiology (DiSTAM...


  • Recent Activity

    1. - PixieSticks replied to PixieSticks's topic in Super Sensitive People
      2

      Working in a kitchen with gluten?

    2. - BoiseNic replied to BoiseNic's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      11

      Skinesa

    3. - knitty kitty replied to Whyz's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      6

      Feeling ill

    4. - Scott Adams replied to Brianne03's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      5

      Advantages vs. Disadvantages of having an official Celiac diagnosis

    5. - Scott Adams replied to Whyz's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      6

      Feeling ill


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      126,530
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    AnnmarieR
    Newest Member
    AnnmarieR
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.9k
    • Total Posts
      69.5k

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):




  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Popular Now

    • Whyz
      6
    • Art Maltman
      6
    • JA917
      13
    • Dana Gilcrease
      5
    • GardeningForHealth
  • Popular Articles

    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
  • Upcoming Events

×
×
  • Create New...