Ola Rokita

Hi! I am Ola and I want to share with you my simple baking recipes that can change your life and how you feel.
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Why I only Bake with European Flour

Ola Rokita19 December 2021Comments (22)

Fours

First reason:
hard versus soft wheat

I love using European flour! More than half of U.S. flour is made from the hard red variety. In Poland on the other hand, majority of wheat is the soft type.

The main difference between the two types is gluten. The hard red type of wheat popular in the U.S. contains more gluten than the soft European type.

Second reason:
Roundup use in the U.S.

In addition to the differences between European wheat versus the U.S. kind, is that in the U.S. wheat is grown and harvested differently too. In many cases wheat farmers soak their wheat fields in Roundup in order to kill off mold, speed up harvest, and produce a higher yield.

Roundup contains a very harmful active ingredient called glyphosate. In several European countries the use of Roundup is banned. However, this doesn’t mean all European flour is safe. Several European countries, like Italy import a lot of wheat from the U.S. and so the probability of traces of glyphosate in some Italian flour is very likely as well.

Cumulative effects of Roundup traces
in our foods

The herbicide industry claims that glyphosate is minimally toxic to humans. However, just because a small trace of glyphosate or Roundup might not harm you, the cumulative effect can have serious health effects in the long term.

If you think about it, wheat flour is in so many foods we eat every day. Such as breads, cereals, pasta, soups, sauces, puddings, even some yogurts and ice cream. Eating these foods on a daily basis means you’re probably systematically ingesting more glyphosate than you think.

The effects are slow to notice, and today you may not be aware of the impact this toxic wheat has on your health, but as your body is systematically exposed to this dangerous chemical, eventually you may start feeling the effects.

Glyphosate has damaging effects
on your digestion

Glyphosate found in Roundup disrupts the healthy flora and lining of your intestine by killing healthy bacteria in your gut. This bacterium is essential for healthy digestion and is the foundation of a healthy immune system.

When your immunity is weakened, you are prone to get sicker easily. Many doctors already recommend for patients to regularly take probiotics to help build healthy gut flora and immunity. But this might not be enough to fight off the effects of this harmful toxin in so many foods we eat every day.

The World Health Organization has declared Glyphosate to be carcinogenic. It has also been linked to autoimmune diseases, obesity, diabetes, and even Infertility.

Choose flour that’s not treated
with Roundup

The bottom line is that I would avoid eating wheat-based products made from bleached and enriched U.S. flour. Not to mention that in addition to ingesting traces of Roundup, the enriched and often bleached flour, causes even more harm to your health over time.

In order to continue enjoying bread in my diet, I now bake my own bread at home made only from European flour, especially one from Poland. And over time I noticed many positive effects on my health and how much happier my gut feels today.

That being said, if you already have celiac disease you probably already avoid gluten that’s found in wheat-based products. And, eating European flour in this case will not make a difference.

But if you’re feeling like something is off with your gut, I strongly recommend you try baking with European flour to see if after a few days of eating only your own bread made with this flour, and avoiding store-bought wheat products, you notice a difference in how you feel.

Give it a shot and follow some of my bread recipes to help you out!

***

You should also read: Baking Bread at Home and Why it’s Good for You

{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }

Jon Wichlacz December 19, 2021 at 22:17

Apple Galette is a family favorite, especially with ice cream!

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Hingdi August 20, 2022 at 17:19

Where do you purchase your flour from? I am trying to look for European flour to buy while in the US.

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Lenore Evans September 4, 2022 at 19:44

Please let us know where to buy authentic European flour.

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lisa September 12, 2022 at 20:41

Where do I buy the polish flour you recommend?

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Wilberforce November 5, 2022 at 10:09

Hellooooooo…where do you buy your flour in the United States??? I’m the fourth person to ask. Is anyone checking these messages?

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Ola Rokita November 5, 2022 at 13:46

Hello!

Thanks for your comment. Yes, I have replied to the individuals directly, but I’ll respond publicly as well. You can purchase the flour on my blog by clicking on the ‘flour shop’ button located on the right-hand side. There are also many Polish stores in New York and Chicago where you can purchase flour from Poland directly. Are you looking for a large quantity or just few kilos? Are you using it for bread or for pastry baking?

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Chuck December 5, 2022 at 00:10

Huh!? Roundup (Glyphosate) to suppress mold?, Speed up harvest?, Wow!
Fear not facts will prevail. FWIW, Glufosinate may be what you’re pointing to?
https://kswheat.com/the-truth-about-roundup-and-wheat-support-material#:~:text=Specifically%2C%20that%20residues%20from%20Roundup,the%20Celiac%20Disease%20Foundation%20itself.

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Elena August 29, 2023 at 19:52

Those links brought to us courtesy of The Kansas Wheat Growers Association. Not exactly unbiased. Just pointing that out. If I want the facts, I look for an independent source or two (or three).

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Ola Rokita September 11, 2023 at 22:34

Thank you Elena. I’ll certainly look into adding few other sources.

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Kelly Rush November 22, 2023 at 11:12

Where in Chicago did you buy polish flour?

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Ola Rokita November 26, 2023 at 11:43

Did you try Lassak Delicatessen at 8017 W 103rd St, Palos Hills, IL 60465. I have not shopped there, but it seems to carry great variety of Polish groceries, including flour. Give them a try!

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Barbara February 28, 2024 at 11:05

Try Angelo Caputos grocery stores located throughout Chicagoland.

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John December 7, 2023 at 02:34

What an interesting article. My problem is opposite of what everyone’s having – US + African bread, cakes and baked products work perfectly well for me. The European, at least anything from the Nordic area is a problem for me. My health and state of mind terribly decline immediately I ingest anything not made from US or African flour. I’ve been searching for the cause for this and that’s how I stumble on this page. Do you by chance have any explanation to this phenomena ?

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Diana Ripple December 20, 2023 at 17:19

Any idea where I might get these products in the Colorado Springs/Denver area? I can’t afford the shipping fee…sorry! Retired and on a limited budget but hoping to get the flour to see if it stops my symptoms. Thank you!!

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Ola Rokita December 21, 2023 at 15:59

Thanks for your question, Diana. The trouble with flour is that it’s heavy and because of the weight it’s expensive to ship. I looked at different options, and USPS has the best price for shipping, even if it’s still a little higher than I would prefer. If you live in Colorado, it looks like there is a European Gourmet store at 6624 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80003 that might sell the flour. Maybe call them first and ask if they have it in stock. Hopefully it’s not a long ride from where you are.

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Ember Brown January 25, 2024 at 10:56

What flour would you recommend for sourdough? “Luksusowa” type 550?

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Ola Rokita January 28, 2024 at 08:25

Hi Ember, yes, 550 is a great flour to use to make a light sourdough, but when I make my sourdough, I make my starter using rye flour 720 type and then mix it with the 550 type flour to add an extra boost to the flavor of my bread.

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Sorscha February 12, 2024 at 21:31

I always thought glyphosate (the main ingredient in Roundup) was banned in most of the E.U. as well, but now I am reading that the E.U. has extended a glyphosate authorisation for another 10 years.

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/eu-commission-renew-glyphosate-authorisation-10-years-2023-11-16/

How would I know which countries within the E.U. ban glyphosate and which do not?

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Ola Rokita March 3, 2024 at 13:28

Sorscha, you’re right, Roundup is still being used in certain European countries. So far I’m only aware of France and Italy banning it completely, but you never know since grain from other European countries end up making their way across the EU borders and used to produce flour. It’s difficult to guarantee that flour does not have sourced grains from producers who use Roundup. When I spoke with representatives from Lubella, a reputable producer of flour in Poland, I was informed that their flour comes from high quality producers in Poland, but they couldn’t give me a 100% guarantee that some of the grain they are using from Polish farms don’t contain glyphosate.

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Becca February 26, 2024 at 04:15

What’s brands of Polish flour should I use? I can’t find any links on your site on what brands or where to buy this flour. I appreciate any help.

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Ola Rokita March 3, 2024 at 13:21

Hi Becca,

I just updated my flour stock. You can purchase it here through my shop. Sometimes I sell out of flour and have to wait for new supply to arrive. As you can imagine, importing flour from Poland can sometimes be challenging, but I do my best to keep up with the demand. When I can’t get flour from Poland, I sometimes use Italian flour, which is in greater supply in the U.S. Although the 00 flour does not always work for everything, so it depends what you’re trying to bake.

Thanks,
Alex

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Dream J March 22, 2024 at 14:36

Use whatever flour makes you happy. Do you think other countries are free of pesticides? Even “natural” herb/pesticides can be harmful in large doses. The dose makes the poison, folks. Enriched flour is just added vitamins/minerals. There is no issue with getting extra macronutrients, especially folic acid which can prevent birth defects. Follow food scientists, folks.

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