9 Amazing Benefits Of Wheat Germ. Wheat germ is the seed-containing part of a wheat kernel. It contains nutrients needed for proper growth, development, and reproduction. They help kick-off & maintain the immune system and lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases related to inflammation.
The nutrients in wheat germ might even aid in digestion and prevent damage to muscles and arteries. Wheat germ is a great addition to food because every part has health benefits—in this case, it’s the seed-containing part that contains most of those benefits.
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What is Wheat Germ?
For years, wheat kernels were used mainly to mill flour, in which case the bran and germ parts were casually thrown away and white flour was produced, which held little or no nutritional value. In fact, once synthetic vitamins and bleaches are added to the flour, it actually does more harm than good. When it is extracted from the kernel and isolated into natural oils, or when the grain is eaten entirely, the nutritional benefits of the germ can be passed into our body.
It is often turned into cooking or baking oil for highly concentrated doses of wheat germ on salads or in pasta sauces. What it should not be is a frying oil because most of the nutrients are lost when heated to that level. It can act as an additive in desserts or smoothies or even as a replacement for breadcrumbs or flour in many recipes.
Wheat Germ Nutrition Facts
The nutrients in wheat germ can be quite impressive. Wheat germ is a protein-packed, energy-boosting staple for anyone looking to keep up with their daily nutrition. In addition, it also contains many essential vitamins, minerals, and trace elements that provide the body with what it needs.
Health Benefits of Wheat Germ
Wheat germ is an essential component of a healthy and varied diet that can contribute to overall good health. Wheat germ products offer a range of nutritional benefits such as helping protect against heart disease, maintaining brain function, fighting cancer and stabilizing blood sugar levels. Let’s take a closer look at the popular wheat germ products on the market.
May Boost Immune System
Want to have a healthier immune system? We may have the answer. Wheat germ has been shown to naturally produce proteins that show the potential of having an antioxidant effect in the body. These proteins seek out and destroy free radicals, reducing or eliminating serious illness. Wheat germ also contains high levels of healthy lipids that can increase your HDL cholesterol ratio and help keep your arteries healthy.
May Improve Heart Health
It’s well known that whole-grain wheat and wheat germ have been found to protect against coronary heart disease, reduce risk factors for it, and ensure the health of the cardiovascular system. LDL cholesterol is the type that has been oxidized and can swell in arteries and veins.
This is a common sign of heart attack or stroke risk, so including wheat germ in your diet can help lower rates. Octacosanol as well as high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in wheat germ could cancel out the negative effects associated with omega-6 fatty acids, thereby protecting your cardiovascular system instead. [4]
May Have Anti-aging Properties
Wheat germ is a great anti-aging powerhouse, providing high levels of antioxidants and vitamin E at the same time. The high levels of protein in wheat germ may also lead to better physical appearance and skin health with less visible signs of aging like wrinkles, dull complexion, and sagging hairlines.
May Help Increase Athletic Performance
Wheat germ has been clinically proven to have high levels of naturally occurring octacosanol. Octacosanol is an antioxidant that helps your body regulate biochemical pathways, making your performance more efficient.
The more steps you take with the supplement, the more energy it will save and help you maintain, which in turn can increase stamina. It should be noted that these benefits have been proven multiple times by scientific studies but are contradicted by the inconsistency of research methods.
May Improve Cellular Metabolism
Other beneficial vitamins found in wheat germ are niacin, thiamine, and folate. These vitamins can be vital for macronutrient transformation, which can help transform nutrients from carbohydrates, lipids and others into usable energy that cells can consume.
This can also be a great way to fight metabolic disorders like chronic obesity by improving the metabolism of the body through performance of daily actions. As well as being found in whole grains such as many types of cereal, wheat germ provides plenty of B vitamins for your nutrition needs.
May Boost Muscle Health
Protein is an important nutrient for many reasons. One of the best sources can be found in wheat germ. This nutritious part of a meal can provide ample protein, which may play an essential role in maintaining healthy muscles, repairing damaged tissues, regulating energy levels within the body, and aiding in homeostasis and overall system balance.
Protein may also be an essential dietary requirement for people wanting to get in shape and increase their muscle mass.
May Support Healthy Pregnancy
A great way to ensure good health for pregnant women and their unborn children is by adding wheat germ to their diets. Its nutrient-packed nature means that it’s beneficial in many ways, such as with helping to prevent neural tube defects and other complications during pregnancy.
Folic acid is one of the healthful properties in wheat germ that helps make this benefit possible.
May Reduce Diabetes Risk
Wheat germ can help you manage your homocysteine levels. One way is through folic acid, which has a negative correlation with homocysteine.
This can reduce your chances of developing some medical conditions that come from having high homocysteine, which includes diabetes, heart disease and vascular disease.
Side Effects of Wheat Germ
Wheat Germ: Nutrient-Rich Food for Your Health A growing number of the population can’t tolerate gluten, which is found in wheat and other grains. This gluten intolerance often comes from diseases like celiac’s disease.
Eating gluten causes pain and harm to the digestive tract, and even death in some extreme conditions. Even though wheat germ has many nutritional benefits, people need to be careful because weight gain, health issues like obesity and celiac’s disease can occur if their intake of other everyday calories is not managed properly.
