Little Package. Big Surprise!
It’s always that way on Christmas and birthdays—why wouldn’t it be in nature? Well, it is with the remarkable wheat kernel, or “berry,” one of nature’s most perfect foods. This little kernel of grain is jam-packed with enzymes, vitamins, minerals, protein, fats, fiber, and complex carbohydrates...all things our really bodies need. These nutrients are found in the various layers of the whole grains. These layers include the bran, the endosperm, and the germ.
The Bran
The bran is the hard, protective "jacket" that locks up all the vital nutrients in the wheat kernel. The bran itself contains 80 percent of the nutrients found in the wheat berry. It’s rich in minerals, trace elements and insoluble fiber. This fiber acts as roughage, adding bulk to the digestive system, removing unwanted poisons and toxins quickly from our bodies.
The Endosperm
The endosperm is the interior soft, starchy part of the kernel. It’s about 83 percent of the entire kernel and contains the greatest share of the protein, complex carbohydrates, and iron as well as many B-complex vitamins, such as riboflavin, niacin, and thiamine.
The Germ
The germ is the life-giving part of the seed, the part that will sprout if planted. It’s one of the most nutritious foods in the world, packed with trace minerals, vitamins B and E and unsaturated oils. However, once milled, it can only last 72 hours at room temperature before going rancid.