Is Fresh Milled, Whole Grain Flour Healthier and Safer than Conventional American Wheat?

I reported and produced (another) audio story!

In my most recent story for the Gravy podcast, I talk about how organically grown, fresh-milled, whole-grain flour has a new set of adopters: followers of the MAHA movement, who increasingly believe that conventional American wheat is unhealthy, if not outright dangerous. Gravy is produced by the Southern Foodways Alliance. You can listen to the story on their website, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.

I reported this story because I love using these flours, but I was becoming increasingly unsure of the health claims attached to it— including the idea that it’s the only kind of gluten that some people can safely eat. I spoke to expert millers and bakers as well as scientists who study non-celiac gluten sensitivity and organic agriculture to learn more.

On a personal note, telling reported audio stories is a new format for me, and it felt really important to get this one right. I know so many wonderful people in the fresh milled, whole grain flour movement who are passionate advocates for these products, and there is tremendous joy in supporting small agriculture and milling operations. I’m also concerned about the black and white thinking that can posit organic/fresh-milled/whole grain flour as the only healthy alternative to conventional roller milled flour.

There’s only so much ground you can cover in a twenty-five minute episode. If there’s a related topic you want me to cover more deeply, feel free to shoot me a message (I personally wish I could devote an entire episode to why we enrich flour!).

Thank you to Dr. Jessica Biesiekierski, Alyssa Fernandez, Dr. Aaron Fox, Pamela Thibodeaux, and Keira Watt for speaking with me for this story.

Dr. Jessice Biesiekierski is the Head of Human Nutrition at the University of Melbourne, and a leading expert on gut health, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and the gut-brain connection. She is currently recruiting US or Australia-based volunteers for a research study on irritable bowel syndrome. You can learn more here.