I vividly remember as a young kid, my mother would go into the fridge, pull out about 4 oranges, fresh squeeze them into a glass of juice and then add a heaping tablespoon of wheat germ to the mix. At first I just wanted to gag, but over time, I began to well enjoy this concoction. And, my mother must have known what she was doing, because today she is over 80 and still going strong.
So just what are the benefits of wheat germ? Is there magic to this marvel of nature? Well, it kind of depends on who you ask. The doctors are all convinced that it's more myth than substance and the nutritionists swear by it. The truth is probably somewhere in between, but well closer to reality than myth.
The one thing you have to be aware of is that not all wheat germ is the same. For example, wheat germ in its raw form will go bad within just a few days of being exposed to the air. So your best bet is to go with toasted wheat germ, which has a longer shelf life.
As to the benefits, wheat germ, in any form, is a great source of many vitamins, together with vitamin E, most of the B vitamin group, folic acid, and a amount of minerals such as iron, calcium, zinc. This list is by no means all inclusive. The vitamin E in wheat germ is a mighty antioxidant that is prominent for fighting cancer and heart problems.
Probably one of the best things about wheat germ, especially as you get older and your digestive system starts to slow down, is that it is an perfect source of fiber. Eating wheat germ on a regular basis, as well as eating other fiber rich foods, is an perfect way to stay regular and avoid things like constipation, or worse, a blocked colon.
Women especially benefit from taking wheat germ as it helps alleviate premenstrual symptoms and also menopausal symptoms. The minerals in wheat germ are also perfect for promoting salutary skin, nails and hair. Women also benefit from having stronger bones and teeth. Also, studies show that eating wheat germ helps preclude safe bet types of birth defects.
And, if all that isn't enough, a regular diet of wheat germ will also give you more force and energy, keeps your cholesterol at general levels and also helps preclude illness.
As I said, the camps are divided as to the benefits of wheat germ. But I keep finding at my 80 plus year old mother and can't help thinking to myself that she must be doing something right.
To Your Health,
Steve Wagner
