THE WHEAT KERNEL

What is whole grain? A whole grain is any grain (not just wheat!) which maintains all three of its parts. Keeping all three parts of the grain means you keep all of the beneficial components the whole grain has to offer. The three parts are called the bran, the germ, and the endosperm.

The Bran This is the tough and fibrous outer shell of the wheat kernel. This was created by nature to actually protect the interior of wheat berry from pesky insects and the elements so the kernel can sprout and grow into a new plant. It contains important antioxidants, B vitamins and fiber.

Endosperm This is the largest part of the grain, which is a good thing too because it is the food supply for the plant when it first starts to grow before it has well established roots and leaves for nourishment. This is the starchy part of the grain where most of the carbohydrate can be found. It also provides proteins and small amounts of vitamins and minerals.

Germ This is the most important part of the grain in regards to its development because this is the embryo that will transform into a plant. This is also the only portion of the grain that contains healthy fats. It also contains B vitamins, some protein, and minerals.

Benefits of Whole Grain Whole grains deliver superior taste and nutrition! The USDA has recommended eating 6-8 ounces of grains each day (for the average healthy adult) and to "Make Half Your Grains Whole".

Benefits of Whole Grain It is recommended that most healthy adults consume 6-8 one ounce equivalents of grains every day. When you make at least half of them whole grains, you start seeing benefits including a decreased risk of some of the biggest killers in America including Heart disease Stroke Type 2 diabetes Hypertension Obesity Colorectal cancer

continued Some studies are even suggesting that the risk of developingasthma in children, inflammatory disease, and gum disease may also decreases with increased whole grain intake while digestive health improves. Not to mention eating whole grains is linked to slim waistlines, better long term weight management, and keeping you feeling fuller longer!

Whole foods not only provide you with many micronutrients, antioxidants, phytochemicals, carbohydrates, protein, and fat, but they do so in specific ratios and forms. All of which are perfectly coordinated to work synergistically to promote and protect your health. Studies are consistently discovering health benefits linked to whole foods supporting the notion that the whole food truly does provide us with more benefits than the sum of the parts.