What is the difference between freshly milled whole wheat flour and whole wheat flour found in the bins in the natural food sections of grocery stores?
Freshly milled whole-wheat flour contains 100% of the wheat kernel; the bran, germ and endosperm. In order for whole wheat flour in the bins to be labeled as such, the flour only has to contain 5% of the three components as long as they are equally included. Under the current FDA label regulations, the total amount of whole wheat included does not have to be disclosed. Therefore, you really do not know what you are getting. Because of the oxidation process, nutrients in all flour (whether found in the natural food bins or whether it is freshly milled) are compromised as soon as the wheat kernel is exposed to air; i.e., when it is milled. After just 24 hours, 45% of the vitamins and minerals are lost. Moreover, after only 72 hours from the time of milling, the flour only has 90% of the vitamin and minerals it originally had. Therefore, all of the flour in natural food bins has a maximum of 10% of the vitamins and minerals that freshly milled flour contains. Additionally, the vitamin E g
