WHY YOU MIGHT WANT TO RETHINK A GRAIN-FREE OR GLUTEN-FREE DIET

FIRST THINGS FIRST: WHAT IS GLUTEN?

Humans have been eating gluten for eons. Gluten forming proteins are found naturally in wheat (including ancient wheat’s like einkorn, faro, Kamut®, or spelt), barley, and rye. They’re what help dough stretch and bread rise

VERY FEW PEOPLE NEED A GLUTEN-FREE OR WHEAT-FREE DIET FOR MEDICAL REASONS

Celiac disease, which affects an estimated 1-2% of the US population, is a medically diagnose autoimmune disease that requires strict lifetime adherence to a gluten-free diet. Another 0.2-0.4% of Americans are allergic to wheat (but not barley or rye).  

WHAT ABOUT GLUTEN-SENSITIVITY?

Many patients who respond well to a gluten-free diet, but don’t test positive for Celia disease, are thought to have “non-Celia gluten sensitivity.” But science is casting doubts on the usefulness of gluten-free diets for people like these. Researchers analyzed data from 10 studies, in which 1,312 adults with “non-Celia gluten sensitivity” were tested for their reaction to gluten.1 In these 10 double-blind, placebo-controlled gluten challenges (where neither the researchers nor the participants knew if they were getting a gluten-free diet or the gluten-containing control / placebo), only 16% of the patients showed gluten-specific symptoms when exposed to the gluten-containing diet, and 40% of them had similar or increased symptoms when on the gluten-free control diet. In other words, gluten is probably not the culprit in most people who think they are gluten-sensitive. Blaming gluten may keep other serious problems from being addressed.

THE DOWNSIDES OF UNPRESCRIBED GLUTEN-FREE DIETS

• In a study that followed more than 100,000 US adults without celiac disease2 for more than 25 years, researchers found that eating gluten was not related to heart disease risk. In fact, the researchers cautioned that avoiding gluten may result in eating fewer whole grain foods, which may in turn increase the risk for heart disease.

• Harvard scientists3 found that people eating less gluten had a higher risk for type 2 diabetes. In fact, those in the top 20% of gluten intake were 13% less likely to get type 2 diabetes over the 30-year study period, even after adjusting for family history, exercise habits, weight, and calorie intake. Why? This may be because glutenfree foods are often made with substitutes like potato starch and tapioca that can make blood sugar spike.

• Gluten-free versions of foods have been shown to have more calories, sodium, and sugar than their regular gluten-containing counterparts, and often carry a higher price tag too.4 Real, whole grain foods are a better choice.

• Self treatment with a gluten-free diet messes up the blood test for celiac disease. Always speak with your doctor before making dietary changes.

• Self treatment with a gluten-free diet messes up the blood test for celiac disease. Always speak with your doctor before making dietary changes.

PEOPLE WHO AVOID GRAINS TEND TO BE LESS HEALTHY

Using national health survey data from 9,341 adults in Australia, researchers found that people avoiding grains were significantly more likely to be overweight or obese than those who eat grains, despite consuming fewer calories than grain eaters. Grain avoids also ate fewer fruits, vegetables and less fiber, and were more likely to have a higher BMI and waist size. Our advice: pick meals and snacks full of whole grains, fruits, vegetables and other real foods.

THE EARTH CAN’T SUPPORT A SHIFT FROM GRAINS TO OTHER FOODS (LIKE MEAT)

For millennia, grains have been one of the most important sources of food worldwide. Today, grains provide nearly 50% of global calories,6 and are some of the most earth-friendly foods to produce. Fruits and vegetables, while very nutritious, aren’t as energy dense as grains and are harder to grow, transport, and store for year-round enjoyment. So to make up the necessary calories in fruits and vegetables, much more food would have to be grown. Similarly, raising animals for meat production requires a substantial amount of land and water. For example, beef production uses 10.19 liters of water to produce 1 calorie of food, compared to only 2.09 liters per calorie of fruits, 1.34 liters per calorie of vegetables, and 0.51 liters per calorie of grains.7 Shifting diets away from grains and towards more energy-intensive foods puts an impossible burden on our planet’s precious resources.

CONVENIENT OPTIONS TO BECOMING A WHOLE GRAIN ENTHUSIAST

There are various options available in the market today both online and through brick and mortar retail shops. These provide a convenient option to mill our own flour on each meal basis, which not only provides maximum nutrition but also fantastic taste. These mills come in various options like hand operated manual flour mill, electricity operated flour mill, and solar power operated flour mill. Bring home a domestic flour mill today to reap the healthy benefits of whole grain meal after meal, every day.

Take a journey inside our mills

High-quality materials for the perfect finish and durability

A long lifespan is a number one priority for all hawos products, whether you choose wooden mills (solid wood or plywood) or colorful versions made of high-quality durable Makrolon poly-carbonate plastic. We place particular emphasis on ethical and ecological aspects when harvesting and processing wood. Our wood – birch and beech – is processed in a special-needs woodworking factory in Austria. Their dedication to detail and their enjoyment in being an active part in society can be seen in the exceptionally high quality they produce.

To a large extent it comes from PEFC certified forests in the surrounding region, which are used in accordance with the rules of sustainability and nature-orientated practices

We achieve a particularly high accuracy of fit with both our solid wood and plywood wood housings by using computer-controlled saws. Both versions have natural, vital surfaces, which are characteristic of wood and a delight for the senses. Our high-grade plywood housings are ideal for countries with unstable temperatures and humidity.

Many hawos mills are manufactured in a modular construction making them equally efficient and simple.

journey of our new Hawos Germany head office construction

On this page we keep you informed about our new building.

Background and construction planning Our new head office with office space, repair facilities, warehouse and underground parking is being built in the Massenheimer Weg in Bad Homburg, only a few hundred meters away from our current location. The planning for the new corporate headquarters has been going on for several years now.After many appointments with the authorities, architects and the general contractor, the third draft was finally approved!

In May 2015, the excavator finally kicked off, but not without encountering some surprises!Before the excavator could start its work on 2,100 square meters of area, a ground survey had to be prepared. These investigations revealed that archaeological findings were suspected. Construction freeze! An archeological team came on site with rakes and brushes and dug in the scorching summer heat.They found historic pieces of pottery from the time of the Romans, which was to be expected by the proximity to the Limes, as well as earth discolourations, which pointed to a settlement during the Celtics (up to 500 BC).

4. September 2015

The excavations are over! To celebrate, the newspaper ‘Taunus Zeitung’ (part of Frankfurter Neue Presse) has published a story on the history of our construction project so far.

The excavation is dredged. Pictured: Architect M. Raufenbarth, builder Ralf Pigge with wife Jutta and sons Sebastian, Johannes, Thomas and grandchild Taylor.
December 2015: The first snow. Winter is coming!