Difference Between Wheat & Whole Grain

Whole wheat or whole grain: What is the difference?

Whole wheat bread and whole grain bread: When searching for good nutrition, what is the difference? What does it mean to you?

Whole Wheat

Wheat bread resembles white in texture and nutrition.

Whole wheat means that the bread or pasta item is made from wheat flour, with no other flours added. It may have the bran and germ removed during the refining process. Molasses and other coloring agents may be added to create a brown coloring.

Whole Grain

Whole wheat berries contain bran and germ.

If bread or pasta are labeled "whole grain," they may contain flours other than wheat. They contain a flour that includes the bran and germ of the grain involved.

Why bran?

Bran is frequently packaged as a breakfast cereal.

Bran is a husk found on many grains. According to NutritionData.com, a single serving of wheat bran will provide 99 percent of human needs for fiber. Dietary fiber helps regulate digestive elimination.

Why germ?

The germ is the part that grows a new plant.

Wheat germ contains B complex vitamins and vitamin E. The B vitamins in wheat, when combined with a legume such as beans or peanut butter, make a nearly complete protein. Vitamin E is important in controlling free radicals and cholesterol. The germ of other grains also contains important nutrients.

Whole Grain Foods

Whole grain bread has a robust texture.

Whole grain flours are ground with the bran and germ. They can be made into a variety of breads, cereals and pasta. The flavor is somewhat more robust than white or wheat flour and may have a rougher texture.

References

• The Leader: a slice of advice on wheat
• Nutritiondata.com: Wheat Bran, crude
• World's Healthiest Foods: Whole Wheat

Resources

• Allrecipes.com: Whole Grain Bread