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.

Whole grains are believed to be nutritionally superior to refined grains. 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 (raw rice; parboiled rice however retains some of the "wholeness"), white bread, hominy and pasta (although whole-grain varieties of pasta are available). 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)..

For more information about the topic Whole grain, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles:

Bran — Bran is the hard outer layer of cereal grains, and consists of combined aleurone and pericarp. Along with germ, it is an integral part of whole ...  > read more

Brown rice — Brown rice is unmilled or partly milled rice, a kind of whole grain. It has a mild nutty flavor, is chewier than white rice, and becomes rancid more ...  > read more

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