Whole grain cereals

Information on Whole Grain Cereals

Whole grain cereals are very beneficial for the health ofthe human body because they are jam packed with the dietary fiber and a largenumber of different sorts of nutrients. Whole grains include quinoa, wild rice,millet, bulgar, barley, brown rice, corn, oats and wheat. The outer layer ofeach grain is called bran and it is an excellent source of zinc, iron,phosphorus, magnesium, riboflavin, thiamin and niacin. Whole grain cereals arealso important sources of phytochemicals, proteins and complex types ofcarbohydrates. They are very healthy additions to any type of diet routine.Whole grain cereals have been consumed by various cultures ever since theancient times, and they have been considered as a dietary staple for many millennia.Most grains need to be processed before the actual consumption, and they areusually baked or cooked. The outer hulls are indigestible and they need to beremoved by milling. Grain is also used for the production of various types ofalcoholic beverages such as beer and ale. The growth and storing of food suchas whole grains have actually made the evolution from the nomadic lifestylepossible. The endosperm contains minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates andproteins, while the germ contains thiamin, riboflavin, zinc, iron, phosphorus,magnesium and vitamin E.

Whole grains contain low amounts of saturated fat and theydo not contain any cholesterol at all. They are an important source ofdifferent sorts of polyunsaturated fats, antioxidants and vitamins from the Bcomplex, such as folate. The bran and germ get removed during the processinginvolved in the production of refined cereals.

Benefits of whole grain cereals

Whole grain cereals are very efficient in reducing the riskof coronary heart disease due to the high amounts of certainphytochemicals. They are very strongantioxidants and they kill off the harmful free radicals. Whole grain cerealsreduce the risk of heart disease, decrease the levels of bad cholesterol in theblood and increase the levels of good cholesterol in the blood. Those whosuffer from obesity and diabetes should ingest plenty of whole grain cereals.Whole grain cereals enhance the functioning of the digestive tract and preventcertain types of cancer. One needs to store the whole grain cereals properly.They need to be kept in an airtight container in a cool and dry area. They canbe incorporated into numerous delicious types of recipes.