For those looking to switch to a healthier and low fat diet, whole grain is a great choice. Among the list of foods that are considered by vegetarians, whole grains make the list. The inclusion of whole grain into your daily diet is advocated now more than ever, especially after recent studies have revealed its nutritious qualities.
What Is Whole Grain?
You’ve probably heard about whole grain before but do not have a clear idea or knowledge about this food type. This type of food basically consists of three grain parts:
1. Bran – Its outer layer consists of fiber, B vitamins, minerals, and phyto-chemicals, which are helpful in promoting one’s health.
2. Endosperm – This portion of the whole grain contains protein and carbohydrate, as well as smaller quantities of B vitamins.
3. Germ – This part of the grain consists of the following nutrients: vitamin B, vitamin E, minerals, unsaturated fats, and phyto-chemicals.
A food substance is considered to be whole grain when it contains all three parts of the grain. In terms of taste, whole grain is very easy to incorporate into your diet because of its “nutty” taste. Today, there are several varieties of food products that contain whole grain such as pasta, rice, crackers, breads and rolls, and cereals.
Nutritional Content of Whole Grain
Whole grain contains of several nutrients that are good for your body. Therefore it is recommended that you incorporate whole grain into your daily diet to ensure that your body gets the nutrients it needs to function well. Meanwhile, here are basic nutrients that your body can get from eating whole grain products:
– Carbohydrates – any type of grain foods contain this type of nutrient, hence nutritionists recommended daily intake of carbohydrates since it is necessary to provide energy for your daily activities.
– High in fiber
– Low in fat and have no cholesterol
– Vitamins
– Minerals
– Antioxidants
– Phytonutrients
– Phytate
– Starch
Recognized Health Benefits of Whole Grain
There is a wide variety of whole grain in the market. Among just a few of them are as follows:
– Whole wheat
– Wild rice
– Oats
– Whole grain cornmeal
– Whole grain barley
– Brown rice
– Popcorn
The individual parts of the grain contribute to providing health benefits to your body. Aside from providing the energy needed to perform daily activities, it also helps reduce the risk of acquiring certain diseases. But if you want to achieve maximum health benefits from whole grain, it is best that you intake the whole grain itself instead of certain parts.