White, wheat, and otherwise gluten-ridden flours can be problematic. Not only are white and wheat flours generally bleached, making them not good for you, but they contain gluten, too. Many people have an allergy to gluten, and it tends to be hard on your digestive system, as well. However, there are many gluten-free flours available, many of which are packed with nutrients.
For vegans, those on the Paleo diet, or a lower-carb diet, coconut flour is one of the best gluten-free flours you can choose. Furthermore, the health benefits of coconut flour are undeniable. It has a high amount of saturated fats, which the body can use easily for energy. (1)
Additionally, coconut flour promotes healthy blood sugar levels. Studies published in the British Journal of Nutrition demonstrated that consuming coconut flour supports stable blood sugar levels and lower the overall glycemic impact of food. (2)
Coconut flour also promotes heart health. Studies show, in fact, that this flour helps lower bad (LDL) cholesterol. (3) This is due to the soluble and insoluble dietary fiber present in coconut fiber, as well as the healthy MUFA fat content. (4)
Many people question whether or not oats are gluten-free. It depends on what kind of oats you get. If they’re natural, non-contaminated oats, they are gluten-free. The problem is when they’re cross-contaminated in their fields.
However, certain oats are gluten-free, and can be turned into gluten-free flours. And oats help lower cholesterol, provide fiber as well as increase immunity. (6,7,8)
Chickpea flour is next on the list of gluten-free flours. Chickpeas, which are a member of the legume family, provide a great deal of fiber, which helps with digestion as well as promotes weight loss.
Furthermore, chickpea flour has what many experts call the perfect ratio of magnesium, calcium and B vitamins. It also has a large amount of folate, making it a great option for pregnant women. (10)
Here are 12 gluten-free flours you should try:
1. Coconut Flour

2. Sprouted Flour
Sprouted flour, such as yellow-corn flour, is great for homemade cornbread. And when it comes to gluten-free flours, sprouting is a good way to go to add extra benefits. Sprouting is the process of taking a grain and soaking it, usually for 12 to 48 hours. That kills the phytic acid, which is what binds to minerals and keeps you from absorbing minerals present in the grain. Furthermore, sprouting grains makes breads easier to digest, which can prevent extra belly fat as well as ward off leaky gut syndrome.3. Oat Flour

4. Rice Flour
Brown rice flour is also on the list of gluten-free flours. Rice tends to be non-allergenic, and brown rice pasta is one of the closest matches to traditional wheat pasta. Prefer, when you can, brown rice over white rice. This is because conversion of brown rice into white rice destroys a lot of rice’s nutrients.5. Almond Flour
Next on the list of gluten-free flours is the nutritious almond flour. Almonds contain L-arginine, magnesium, copper, manganese, calcium and potassium. Furthermore, studies show that almonds are useful in lowering LDL cholesterol. (9) Almonds are also high in fiber and contain healthy fats. And almond flour is great for baking—use it in cookies, cakes, and other baked goods.6. Tapioca Flour
Tapioca is a pure starch, and is in fact one of the purest forms of starch there is. And tapioca flour is great for to use as a thickening agent, although cassava flour is probably the better option. It contains more vitamin C and is less processed.7. Chickpea Flour
