Wheat Nutrition

There are many health benefits of eating wheat foods.

Fiber

Fiber is one of the most needed nutrients for the human body. While it does not supply minerals, vitamins or calories, it benefits your digestive system. Having a high fiber diet can reduce the risk of heart disease, lowers risk of type 2 diabetes, and reduces inflammation which associates with certain types of cancer. Wheat foods may also help prevent colon cancer.

Folic Acid

Folic acid is another health benefit that can be found in wheat foods. Folic acid has many health benefits, including the prevention of neural tube birth defects in newborns. Folic acid has also been linked to helping prevent Alzheimer’s disease by protecting the neurons for learning and memory.

Vitamins and Minerals

Many vitamins and minerals can be found in whole wheat foods. These include selenium, manganese, phosphorus, copper and the B-vitamin, folate.

Whole Grain vs. Enriched Grain Nutrition

Whole-grain products are made with the whole kernel of grain, which includes the bran, endosperm and germ, and enriched grain products are made with the endosperm only.

The bran (outer layer) contains the largest amount of fiber, the endosperm (middle layer) contains mostly protein and carbohydrates along with some B vitamins, and the germ (inner part) is a rich source of trace minerals, unsaturated fats, B vitamins, antioxidants and phytonutrients.

To identify whole-grain foods, look to see that the first item listed in the ingredient list is referred to as “whole” such as whole-wheat flour.

Whole Grain Nutrition

Whole-grain foods are good sources of B-vitamins, vitamin E and protein, and contain more trace minerals and dietary fiber than enriched grain products.

Whole grains contain antioxidants and other healthy plant-based nutrients. Whole grains contain protective antioxidants in amounts near or exceeding those in some fruits and vegetables. They also provide some plant-based antioxidants not found in other foods.

Studies have shown that eating more whole grains may help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Studies show that whole grains may help lower triglycerides, improve insulin control, help in weight management, and slow the build-up of arterial plaque.

Enriched Grain Nutrition

Enriched grain products contain iron and B-vitamins (thiamin, niacin, riboflavin and folic acid) in amounts equal to or exceeding that in whole-wheat flour. Enriched grain products have more than twice the amount of folic acid as whole wheat.

White flour has been enriched since 1941 with iron and the B vitamins, riboflavin, niacin and thiamin. With this enrichment, pellagra and beriberi have been eradicated from the United States. In 1998, a fourth B vitamin, folic acid, was added to the enrichment formula. As of 2002, a study showed that neural tube defects have decreased by 23 percent following the folic acid fortification in the U.S. grain food supply.

Author: Marsha Boswell