What Are Intact Grains? And Why You Should Be Eating More Of Them

It’s September and that means it’s Whole Grains Month which is brought to you each year by the Oldways Whole Grains Council.

I’ll be providing you with lots of tips and whole grain recipes through the month.

Whole grains are chock full of key nutrients and offer a host of health benefits, such as a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and weight gain. But not all whole grain products are created equal. Consider including intact whole grains—grains which are less processed—for even greater advantages to your health.

First up is how you can reap even more benefits from whole grains by choosing some intact grains.

What are whole grains—and what are intact grains?
Whole grains are essentially the seeds, or kernels, from which grain plants grow; they contain the fibre-rich outer coating of the bran, the central endosperm and the nutrient-rich inner germ. When grains contain all three—bran, endosperm and germ—and are in their unprocessed seed form, they are called intact.

When whole grains, such as whole wheat and brown rice, are refined into white flour or white rice, both the bran and germ—along with all their nutrients—are removed, leaving just the endosperm. While some of the lost nutrients are replaced due to mandatory nutrient fortification of products such as white flour, many, including the fibre, zinc and assorted antioxidants, are not. Consequently, refined grains are a much less nutritious choice.

“The fibre in whole grains offers beneficial effects for the composition of the colonic microbiome (the bacteria and other microorganisms living in our large intestine).” says Thomas Wolever DM, PhD, a professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto. His major research area is about the impact of various carbohydrate-rich foods, such as grains, fruits and sugary selections, on blood sugar and cardiovascular health.

“Whole grains [also] contain more nutrients,” Wolever says. “For example, compared to white bread, whole-grain bread contains twice as much potassium, which lowers blood pressure, and more magnesium, calcium, manganese and selenium (antioxidant), more B-vitamins and healthy fatty acids.”

Okay, so why exactly are intact grains more nutritious?
For starters, intact grains have a lower glycemic index, meaning they don’t spike blood sugar upon consumption. A recent review of research, published in the Journal of Nutrition, looked at the impact of differently processed oats on blood sugar and insulin responses compared to refined grains. The 10 studies included assessed the differences between oat kernels (also known as oat groats), thick oat flakes (steel-cut oats) and thin/quick/instant oat flakes and refined grains which are known to have a high glycemic index (GI), meaning they cause quicker rises in blood sugars during digestion, just as sugary foods would do. Over time, high insulin levels are linked to a greater risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.

Only the oats consumed as intact kernels or as thick oats resulted in lower blood sugar and insulin levels. So cold cereals with finely milled oats, like Cheerios, as well as cereals made of refined grains, would also boost blood sugar and insulin levels.

Intact grains may also help improve your mood and energy level by keeping your blood sugar more steady. “There is emerging evidence that healthy carbohydrates, that are digested slowly, such as intact whole grains, or dried peas and beans like lentils, may also beneficially influence physical feelings. Slowly digested carbohydrates, compared to those quickly digested, can provide benefits such as improved energy levels and can leave you feeling less tired, and even impact pain sensations but also affective feelings like depression and anxiety” says Wolever, whose research was included in the review.

Quickly digested carbohydrates can go hand in hand with a roller coaster effect on your blood sugar—first high levels, and then your blood sugar levels can drop to low levels.
In other research, published in the journal Diabetes Care, scientists in New Zealand evaluated the effects of processing whole-grain wheat, oats, and brown rice in those with type 2 diabetes and found that even though the caloric intake was the same whether the grains were intact or processed, blood sugar readings were improved when the grains were less finely processed. Over time, even if you are healthy, these effects can decrease your risk of developing diabetes later.

Next up: How to find intact grains