Why is whole grain better?

Why is whole grain better describes a complex subject as it affects many systems in the body; from spiking blood-glucose to the beneficial metabolites like serotonin made by the microbiome in the colon.

The gluten controversy must be squarely-faced too.

There is a massive body of research now revealing how refined grains contribute to obesity, type-2 diabetes and heart disease.

New work has also clearly shown that refined grains play a major role in causing dry age-related macular degeneration too, the chief cause of blindness in persons over fifty. This subject is not "small beer."

Every slice of chocolate cake and glass of sugary beverage are steps on the downward spiral to a life needlessly cut short.

!00% wholemeal comparison with refined and cake flour.True 100% meal, so-called "wholemeal" and cake flour.

Over five million Americans are needlessly blind, and many more partially-sighted; cake flour is in part the guilty factor. Food low in two phytochemicals called lutein and zeaxanthin also contributes[5].

How to test for prediabetes in the home-setting is easily done if you know someone with a glucometer.

In theory "whole grain'"should mean the flour contains the bran, germ and endosperm in the exact same proportions as found in the original kernel. In practice, it hardly exists because the oils are rapidly oxidised once the shell is cracked; and the public is not fond of coarse bread. So what is to be done?

This page was last updated on 31st October, 2021.


Whole grains are better because they help decrease weight and body mass index.[1] There are numerous reasons for this.

Firstly whole grains promote satiety, meaning we are less likely to feel the need to snack, usually on refined-carbs. Stomach contents are released more gradually, slowing the unlocking of glucose from the starch for absorption in the small intestine, and thus into the blood stream.

Secondly more calories are excreted in the faeces of those on a high-fibre diet. And thirdly we then benefit from an increased resting metabolic rate; we consume more calories when not active than those enjoying the refined grains used for making commercial bread, cookies and most breakfast cereals.

And thirdly whole grains are better because they contain what is known as resistant starch; they molecules are configured in a way that enzymes in the gut take longer to digest them. There is no immediate release of glucose into the portal blood system.

Put bluntly those who eat whole grains are less fat; or, those who enjoy mainly refined carbohydrates are far more likely to be obese.

"The calories in corn flakes, refined white-bread and rice is 100% glucose; and potatoes from cold storage too."

- Dr Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, PhD

New potatoes are the exception, by the way, if you can get them. That is why we grow them, and never buy them from cold-storage.

Restriction of calories has proved largely unsuccessful in promoting weight-loss; simply changing to whole grains and oddly adding the good fats to your food has proved far more effective. It is all about constantly feeling hungry when dieting.


Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most common metabolic disease worldwide. Currently there are over 400 million cases, and the prevalence is predicted to increase by 50 percent by 2040[2].

Lifestyle interventions including a change to whole grains, and daily exercise, particularly immediately after a starchy meal, present the best initial strategy to prevent and treat T2DM.

Strictly excluding all refined carbohydrate as is used in the various ketogenic diets is the next step; and for those who are unstable diabetics, restricting all starches to less than 50g per day, and perhaps even less.

Do you understand what is meant by "net carbs?"

Heart disease

The raised blood glucose of diabetes results in profound inflammation of the capillaries and larger vessels, and consequent cardiovascular disease. Then that is followed by raised blood pressure and insulin-resistance. Together these are known as metabolic syndrome.

It is no coincidence that cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death. Simply replacing a refined starch with a whole grain is the simplest effective strategy to change all of this.

Actually there is nothing simple about it; it means foregoing all commercial bread, or baking your own.

Mental health

Lithium, along with sodium and potassium, belongs to a group of elements known as the alkali-metals; they are profoundly important in the body.

Lithium has long been successfully used in the treatment of bipolar-disorder. And it has been strongly researched that where the element is more readily available from our food and water there are much lower levels of suicide and in general violent behaviour[4].

Low and behold, whole grains are second only to nuts when it comes to foods rich in lithium. Potatoes, tomatoes and cabbage are listed as other good sources.



Whole grain cereals


mcg/g dry weight




It is estimated that an average person requires about 1000 mcg of lithium per day.

Lithium has a vitally important role to play in normalising nerve transmission in the brain and spinal-cord, both activation and inhibition of certain neurotransmitters.

A deficiency actually leads to a decrease in the density of the gray matter and the size of two important nuclei in the brain.

It is involved in vitamin transport of folate and B12, modulates the immune-system, for example during the storm caused by the coronavirus, and is an antioxidant. As always, let your food be your medicine; a small continuous supply from nutritious foods and spring water is best.

Refined bread flour

Regrettably, since the oils in 100% flour go rancid very quickly after milling, virtually all bread is made from grains that have been refined to one degree or another.

There is a big fat lie in legislation worldwide regarding bread; bakers are allowed to call it whole-grain provided that not more than 40% of the content has been removed, notably the fibre and germ. The supermarket bread is a major cause of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

If you love bread there is only one solution. Mill your own flour and make a loaf, unless you can find a bakery that does that; there are extremely few.

It's all about real and fake bread; the one is wholesome and satiating, the other tasteless, fattening and may give you a bellyache. Does that answer for you the question why is whole grain better?

A breadmachine loaf of bread using wholemeal flour.

It takes but five minutes to mix the ingredients for our low GI bread, including milling the wheat. Once you step up to 100 percent real flour for your baking, you'll never look back.


The fibre in whole grains go a long way to alleviating constipation, though in my case it is not enough. I have a lazy colon and have had since childhood.

Over and above the insoluble fibre making whole grains better, I personally have to have soluble fibre too on a daily basis; that means fruit and greens at least twice a day. Then I have no difficulty whatsoever. The malignant colorectal-tumours associated with constipation are horrific.


Researchers working at the Tufts' Friedman School of Nutrition state that there is strong data showing that those who consume high GI foods with subsequent rapid digestion of the starches in refined grains are at a higher risk of contracting age-related macular degeneration, the chief cause of blindness in older folk. They cause dysfunction of the rods and cones in the retina and loss of photoreceptor cells.

They investigated the effect of a high GI diet from refined starches as compared to a low glycemic diet from whole-grains, but with the same number of total calories, on mice[3].

There were clear signs that those mice on a whole grain diet had far less loss of pigmentation and atrophy of the retinal cells, or the accumulation of toxic fat caused by "glycation;" the bonding of a sugar-molecule onto a lipid or protein molecule in the eyes.

These advanced glycation end-products are implicated in many diseases including macular degeneration, with consequent loss of sight.

Why are whole grains better?

They attributed this to the types of bacteria found in the gut. Those on a high glycemic diet had many pathogens of the Clostridiales order in the colon, but those on whole grains gained protection from the friendly Bacteroidales bugs; they released certain eye-protective metabolites including serotonin.

Interestingly changing the diet half-way through the research to a third group of mice arrested and even to a degree reversed the macular degeneration.

2015 dietary guidelines

The 2015 dietary guidelines for Americans recommending replacing some refined-starches with whole grains until they make up no more than 50% of our food.

Whilst that may be suitable as an achievable first-step, we believe it does not go nearly far enough. We personally eat virtually no refined grains and give it much of the credit for the fact that in our eighth-decade we take absolutely no chronic medication.

We would take drugs for an infectious illness such as pneumonia obviously, but in fact have no need for any pills for several years.

A recent consultation with an optician confirmed good pigmentation of the retina, no signs of macular degeneration, or cataracts either, another proven benefit that whole grains are better. 

Why is whole grain better?

"40% of Americans eat no whole-grains at all, and only 8% consume the recommended three helpings per day."

Gluten intolerance

There are concerns in nutritional circles that the fad, if I may call it that, about gluten intolerance has meant that a great many people have moved away from whole-grains to their overall detriment.

This is not to say that gluten-intolerance does not exist, it certainly does, but to associate every grumble in the intestine with an allergy to wheat is sheer nonsense. Stepping up to artisan bread is the solution for the majority.

Learning how to make kefir is what sorted out my own personal grumbles, and in just one week.

The first step when treating the unhappy tum is to increase the fibre in the diet, both insoluble as in whole-grains, and that in fruits and vegetables.

The second step is ensure a happy microbiome in the intestine by enjoying fermented-foods. Homemade sauerkraut would be one example, as would kefir consumption.

The different parts of a grain of wheat.
  • The starch is contained in the endosperm.
  • The germ contains the protein, nutritious fatty-acids and vitamin E.
  • The bran is where the fibre, several B-vitamins and minerals like calcium are found.

In the refining of flour most of the best parts, the germ and bran, are removed.

You may be thinking, why do the millers removed the minerals and vitamins, and then have to "enrich" the flour again? We started this page by saying that the fatty-acids start to go rancid once the grain is milled, and oxygen starts to do its work. It is best to grind the wheat, and immediately make your bread; fermentation with sourdough is profoundly beneficial.

Are you now more able to answer the question why is whole grain better?

50kg sacks of wheat berries.
100% bread and butter.
Hawo wheat mill.

A reasonable compromise is to keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, or the deep-freezer for a month. Storing wheat safely from moisture, air and weevils requires that it is frozen for two weeks.

Why is whole grain better? Because the taste is far superior and it solves a multitude of wellness-issues.

Now you can see why 100 percent real flour is better; but admit it frankly that stepping up to greater wellness will take time and commitment.

It has been one big step for us as we try to create what we are calling a Cyan Zone at our home; blue issues for greater wellness, and green for the health of the planet.

Our green journey has been one of the most rewarding facets of our lives; simply being freed largely from doctors and pills has made it so worthwhile.


Beware of terms like "multigrain" on the packaging of bread-products which just means there are several different grains, for example oats, wheat and rye, but they are usually highly refined.

Whole grains have far more flavour; once your tongue gets used to the fact that you have to chew more, you will never go back. Simply having an easier time on the loo will convince you; add some soluble fibre foods like spinach and apples several times a day too and it becomes a two-minute affair.

Trust me, I'm a doctor, and I have had a life-long journey with constipation; thankfully the problem is now solved. I think you may be beginning to understand why I am passionate about the question of why whole grain is better. 

Few things will improve your wellness than learning to distinguish between real and fake bread.

Step up to better health

  • Start replacing some of the cake-flour with whole grain products.
  • Absolutely avoid white bread-rolls and buns.
  • Keep cakes and cookies for high and holy-days.
  • Choose only breakfast cereals that have at least 2g of fibre for every 10g of starch. Especially avoid cornflakes and other highly-refined and sugared products. Rolled oats with a teaspoon of raw honey and cream is excellent.
  • Start weighing whether you should be investing in a wheat-mill and electric bread oven; it takes only five minutes to mix the dough and there will be a massive saving on your medical bills. To boot you get the best tasting bread in the world.

Why is whole grain better?

Why is whole grain better is an important question because of the assumption in many quarters that gluten is the cause of every problem in the intestine.



Here are the back issues.

  • Mill your own flour
  • Bake your own sourdough bread
  • Microplastics from our water
  • Alternative types of water storage
  • Wear your clothes out
  • Comfort foods
  • Create a bee-friendly environment
  • Go to bed slightly hungry
  • Keep bees
  • Blue zone folk are religious
  • Reduce plastic waste
  • Family is important
  • What can go in compost?
  • Grow broad beans for longevity
  • Harvest and store sunshine
  • Blue zone exercise
  • Harvest and store your rainwater
  • Create a cyan zone at your home



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Hilton, KZN

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