Whole grains are good for you

Here is an overview of the whole grains and how they are important for good health.

A grain is the seed of a plant and a whole grain includes parts known as the germ, endosperm and bran.


The germ is the part of the grain from which new shoots of plants, it is the heart of the nucleus. It contains protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids, fiber and many vitamins and minerals that are good for your body.

The endosperm is the majority of the grain kernel. It has small amounts of vitamins and minerals and includes most of the grain protein.

The sound is the hard outer layer of the seed and is a rich source of dietary fiber. It also includes some starch, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. Refined Versus Whole Grains
Whole grains have all these parts still intact. While refined grains have both the bran and wheat germ removed, leaving only the least nutritious part, the endosperm.

Refined grains (like white flour and white rice) provide poor nutrition, leaving still hungry for good nutrition of the body. Although some of the "vitamins" and "minerals" are added after the grinding process, nothing artificial can fill in what was once there naturally.

Refined grains are absorbed too quickly into the bloodstream causing disturbances in the levels of sugar in the blood which exhausts the pancreas and / or adrenal glands. 

Furthermore, since the sound is removed during the refining process, it is not the quantity of fibers in the grain either. Our body needs fiber to help clean our intestines, so when refined grains are consumed they act more like glue to your intestines that can cause various health problems.

Whole grains, on the other hand, are very different from their refined versions. They are rich in fiber, antioxidants, vegetable proteins, vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, many other healthy substances, and they have no cholesterol and are low in fat. They provide many nutrients that are low in modern day diet such as fiber, B vitamins, vitamin E, etc.

Whole grains have also been shown to reduce the risk of intestinal disorders, obesity, heart disease and high cholesterol, stroke, high blood pressure, many types of cancer and may also help regulate blood sugar in people who have diabetes.

The choice seems obvious. Whole grains have many health benefits while refined grains do not. One is useful to the body, while the other is detrimental to it. The key is that we should all be eating more whole grains to live a healthier life.

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