“The earth is satisfied with the fruit of your works…wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make the face shine, and bread which sustains man’s heart.” Psalm 104:13-15
Baking bread for my family is one of the most satisfying endeavors I have ever undertaken as a mother and homemaker. As I knead the dough and work hard with my hands to create something that I know will nourish and strengthen us, it always astounds me to think about how old and ancient the practice is. As old as humanity itself, Yahweh designed and implemented ways for His creatures to flourish and their bodies to be healthy. We see in the garden and elsewhere throughout the Torah His instructions for eating and what is considered good food for humans and what is not.
As I knead my own bread, I think of the many women before me who have done the same for their families and who passed down this tradition of making bread to younger generations. This knowledge and practice was only recently lost in the last one hundred years through the process of industrialization and cheap consumerism which speedily came to the forefront of society. With the invention of the steel-rolling mill in 1878, families quit relying on the community stone miller, they quit making their own bread, and the population at large began to rely on the mass produced white flour which became a staple in the home by 1920. This enriched white bread, which is stripped of the bran and germ, is void of over 30 nutrients found in whole grain flour. Is it pure coincidence that our country has seen a massive health decline and physical degeneration within just the last century?
Could it be due to the bread?
I would argue that the bread you see on the aisles in your grocery store or in restaurants or even “healthy” bread such as store bought whole grain bread or even sourdough …is not real bread at all. It is a dead food made to be that way in order to cheaply mass produce a product to a consumer who doesn’t know any better. These facts coupled with the demonization of wheat and grains in the last twenty years has truly done so much harm to the way we think about the most biblical food in existence….bread!
It is amazing how once you have a lightbulb moment on something…you then see it everywhere. I can’t “unsee” bread in scripture now. It is everywhere and I am a little too excited when I find another verse about bread and its benefit or usage in Bible times. In scripture, bread is everywhere and a part of everything. The word is used close to 300 times and alluded to or used metaphorically when not speaking literally. Bread is used in the temple service, throughout the feasts, to show hospitality, to share with the sojourner and the fatherless. It is used to comfort and to nourish, as gifts and in celebrations, and Yeshua the Messiah compares Himself and His body to bread. He uses it when He teaches His disciples to pray and He was also recognized after His resurrection in the “breaking of bread.” It is a food meant to be shared and enjoyed and consumed with thanksgiving to the One who provides all good gifts for His children.
The health benefits of milling your own grain and daily consuming freshly milled grains are too numerous to discuss in detail. I can simply attest to the fact that it has changed our lives forever and the healthy changes we’ve seen have been enough proof for me that the key is in the whole, unprocessed, unstripped, grain.
We have since become tried and true bakers…humble bread connoisseurs…having around 40-50% of our daily nutrients come from grains and breads. Which seems like a lot. Which would make one wonder why we aren’t overweight or struggling with sluggish digestion or gluten issues or any host of other ailments purported by those who villainize wheat and grains.
But it is quite the opposite. The bread we eat is a nearly perfect food! It is nourishing and filling and filled with vitamins and nutrients that keep us strong and healthy. I have more energy. I used to get terrible migraines and I haven’t had one in almost three years. I used to experience debilitating anxiety and I haven’t dealt with that in years. Our immune systems are strong and we experience less illness in general. Our children don’t get sick often. They are vibrant kids. All praise to Yahweh as this is completely a gift from His hand. When you experience such a profound and beneficial change in your life it is natural to want to share it with others. I encourage you to research the history of white, refined flour and also Sue Becker who is really the pioneer of milling your own flour at home. Her book, her talks, and her YouTube channel are all invaluable resources as you begin your home-milling journey. And of course if I can offer any advice or help, I am here as well.
The lost tradition and practice of milling and making bread for your family can be reclaimed by those who want better for their families and who see it as the gift it is from our good Father above.
Love to you,
Lauren