White flour may not taste sweet, but it can lead to the same problems caused by eating too much refined sugar including an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol. Experts advise swapping your refined flour for more whole grain foods to help reduce your risk of hypertension.
Scottish scientists reveal in an article published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that if you suffer from hypertension, you may find that a diet high in whole grains, such as oats or wholemeal bread,
In fact, the researchers found this to be as effective as taking anti-hypertensive medications.
The authors explain that we should seriously consider ways of including whole-grain wheat and oat-based recipes into our daily diet.
In another study which included over 200 volunteers, it was demonstrated that if a person ingests three portions of whole-grain foods per day, their risk of high blood pressure is considerably reduced, which in turn lowers their chances of developing diseases linked to hypertension.
Some of the study-participants were given three servings of whole-grain foods each day, in the form of wheat, or both wheat with oats, while the rest received refined cereals and white bread (made of refined flour).
In both the whole-grain and refined-grain groups, the participants were encouraged to eat what they normally ate apart from consuming their apportioned servings.
Why refined flour should be avoided
Refined flour may be connected to weight gain, metabolic problems, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer.
Health experts studying the dangers found that the consumption of refined flour raises blood sugar and insulin, causing metabolic dysfunction, it’s depleted in nutrients and contains harmful additives and refined flour displaces healthier foods from the diet.
For the healthiest swaps and to help manage blood pressure.
To make healthier recipes that call for flour, choose whole-grain or other better-for-you products.