Teff flour: if Superman were a baker

If Superman were a baker, he’d use Teff flour. Here are just a few reasons why Teff needs to be on your shopping list.

Gluten free & packed with nutrients

It’s gluten-free, which is great if you suffer from coeliac disease or are sensitive to gluten. One of the questions raised re: going gluten-free is whether you lose important nutritional elements by hopping on the bandwagon[i].

This is where Teff really gets to show off, as it is considered more healthy than whole wheat flour[ii] (in addition to being a great source of protein, Teff excels ahead of whole wheat flour in terms of iron and calcium content), making it a great staple to add to the diets of toddlers, as well as teenage and adult women[iii]. It’s also a complete protein, meaning that it contains all 9 essential amino acids that your body cannot produce itself. This puts it on par nutritionally with quinoa, and thus is also a great addition to vegan and vegetarian diets.

Beneficial to the Ethiopian economy

If that isn’t enough to sell you on this obscure super-grain, it’s grown by approximately 6.3 million farmers in Ethiopia, giving the country huge potential for growth into new markets. Teff is the base ingredient for Injera, or Ethiopian flat bread (see here for an injera recipe recipe), and is central to religious and cultural events[iv].

Versatile

This recipe for injera flat bread presents the flatbread as an alternative to a pancake (topped with yogurt and pomegranate seeds), and here in lies yet another value-add, as it’s a very versatile alternative to standard breads and can be easily used as an accompaniment for both savoury and sweet dishes.

To review, Teff flour is:

Gluten-free
A complete protein
Exceeds whole wheat flour in iron and calcium content
Suitable for toddlers, teenage and adult women, as well as vegans and vegetarians

To purchase Teff flour, visit La Vida foods here to find out more.

Teff flour is an ingredient that is worthwhile for you to have in your pantry both for versatility as well as a deep portfolio of nutritional benefits. And as you will see in the recipe, it’s also very easy to use.

To learn more about healthy exercise and eating habits to achieve your fitness goals, contact James Staring, a leading personal trainer in Clapham, London.

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ABOUT JAMES STARING

James Staring is a personal trainer based in Clapham, London. His methods have featured in publications such as Your Fitness, Hello, Healthy, Daily Mail, Closer, and many more. After giving up smoking and entering the fitness industry in 2009, James has focused on his passion to help others transform their health and fitness. However, James is convinced that most people struggle so much more than they need to in an effort to improve their fitness. Through his company, Fit to Last, which he runs with his partner, Ali Page – James has helped hundreds of men and women make small adjustments in their daily habits to transform their fitness and to love how they look and feel.