What is a whole grain?

Question

Most of what I read on the web says that a whole grain includes the germ, endosperm, and bran.

What confuses me is what exactly is the hull (or husk)? And is the hull removed in a whole grain? My friend says the hull is the bran and it's not removed, but I think hull and bran are different. For example, in oat groats, i think the hull is removed but they are still whole grain, and also in pearled barley the hull is removed but the bran stays. I'm not sure though.

Any information that would clarify hull, husk, and bran is greatly appreciated, especially links to sources and illustrations.

Thank you!

Answer 1

Whole grains are cereal grains which retain the bran and germ as well as the endosperm, in contrast to refined grains which retain only the endosperm. Whole meal products are made from whole grain flour.

Common whole grain products include oatmeal, popcorn, brown rice, whole wheat flour, sprouted grains and whole wheat bread. Common refined grain products include white rice, white bread, hominy and pasta (although whole-grain varieties of pasta are available in natural-food sections of stores).

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Identifying Whole Grains Products
Whole grain products can be identified by the ingredient list. Typically if the ingredient lists "whole wheat", "rolled oats", or "whole corn" as the first ingredient, the product is a whole grain food item. "Wheat flour" is not a whole grain, and therefore does not indicate a whole grain product. Many breads are colored brown (often with molasses) and made to look like whole grain, but are not. Additionally, some food manufacturers make foods with whole grain ingredients, but because whole grain ingredients are not the dominant ingredient, they are not whole grain products.

Whole grains are often more expensive than refined grains because their higher oil content is susceptible to rancidification, complicating processing, storage, and transport.

Similar to the distinction between whole and refined grains is that between whole pulses and refined dal.

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Health benefits
Whole grains are believed to be nutritionally superior to refined grains, richer in dietary fiber, antioxidants, protein (and in particular the amino acid lysine), dietary minerals (including magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and selenium), and vitamins (including niacin, vitamin B6, and vitamin E). Manufacturers are sometimes required by law to fortify refined grain products to make up for the loss of vitamins and minerals.

The greater amount of dietary fibre, as much as four times that found in refined grains, is likely the most important benefit, as it has been shown to reduce the incidence of some forms of cancer, digestive system diseases, coronary heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Some of these protective effects occur because carbohydrates from whole grains are digested and enter the bloodstream more slowly (as measured by the glycemic index).

Answer 2

Sadly, there are no government regulations saying what a company can label as 'whole grain' and what they cannot.

So a company can label whatever they want as 'whole grain', and each company may have a different idea of what it really means.

Answer 3

After eating finished wheat/grain/oat for a pair of month, i had to alter back to white reason no person might driv me to the shop, and that i couldnt consume it i assumed it became nasty. yet then i couldnt consume my pb & j s so i had to apply it... yet even the hamburger buns have been wheat. i like potato bread too.

Answer 4

yes the hull and the bran are differnt

Answer 5

The entire grain :-)

Answer 6

something that is full. haha. no ok it means something like wheat that has a lot of vitamins and minerals in it.