- Written By: Garry Crystal
- Edited By: O. Wallace
- Last Modified Date: 14 January 2012
-
Copyright Protected:
2003-2012 Conjecture Corporation
Walk past any health food store and you will no doubt see advertisements for wheat germ. Wheat germ is one of the most nutritional products available. In fact, wheat germ contains 23 nutrients, and has more nutrients per ounce than any other vegetable or grain.
Wheat germ is a part of the wheat kernel. The germ is only a very small part of the kernel, approximately 2 ½ percent in total. The word germ does not have anything to do with bacteria; it simply refers to germination. The germ is the reproductive part that germinates and forms the wheat grass.
Wheat germ is very high in protein. It contains around 28 percent protein and has more protein than can be found in most meat products. The human body needs protein in order to repair tissue damage and to help minerals and nutrients reach our cells.
The amount of nutrients that are contained within wheat germ seems endless. It contains more potassium and iron than any other food source. Also found in great quantities are riboflavin, calcium, zinc magnesium and vitamins A, B1 and B3. Vitamins B1 and 3 are very important to maintain energy levels and maintain healthy muscles, organs, hair and skin.
Another important vitamin found in wheat germ is vitamin E. Vitamin E is a very important antioxidant. It is helpful in preventing the body's aging process and also to prevent heart disease. Vitamin E also helps to prevent blood clots and is needed to strengthen the body’s immune system.
Wheat germ has been found to be very beneficial in order to keep the body in tip top condition. It is used by athletes in their diet to improve cardiovascular function and improve endurance levels. Body builders will also add wheat germ to their diets in order to bulk up and maintain the nutritional levels they need to perform.
You can buy wheat germ from all good health stores and many supermarkets will carry it as well. It can either be purchased in toasted or fresh form. There are also many food products that already contain wheat germ. A number of cereals are made with it, as well as bread and flour.
If you make your own bread or cakes you can easily add wheat germ when baking by using it instead of a small amount of flour. You will find that it has a sweet, almost nutty flavor that is not too overpowering. It can also be added to meat dishes, eggs, vegetables and even yogurt.
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Discuss this Article
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anon240417
Post 68 |
I am 87 years young, a yoga enthusiast, walk briskly daily for one hour. I am from India. I had a massive heart attack 20 months back. After a complete recovery, I attempted to walk, but could not move forward even 10 steps forward. On a friend's advice, I started taking daily wheat germ two tablespoons in non fat milk twice a day. I am now back to normal, started walking as usual. Hats off to wheat germ. |
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anon213493
Post 66 |
Thanks. All of these contributions have been so keenly interesting. With concern about the likely deficiency of B vitamins for a male friend who suffered a heart attack, I have recently found a site that has an article "Gluten Intolerance Involves B Vitamin Deficiencies." Bar none, it is most illuminating about the reasons for gluten and lactose intolerance, the relationship of B vitamins to these problems, how our adrenal glands require a continual replenishment of the B's for best function and how chronic stress (physical/mental/emotional) can put a huge strain on the body when there is inadequate supply of B vitamins. I have long known how the B's were important for a healthy nervous system and to provide sufficient energy, but to learn how even a minute amount of Thiamine (B1) is physiologically critical for the heart (to avoid deleterious effects of Beriberi). I will be buying the highest quality of wheat germ for my friend (and myself) that I can find. Thanks again everyone, for a great forum. |
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anon206849
Post 65 |
anon8910: You should let us make our own minds up. What is it? |
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anon164179
Post 64 |
I just found out that a wheat kernel is 83 percent endosperm, 14 percent bran, and 3 percent germ. Whole wheat has it all, and white flour is just the endosperm. Therefore to keep proportions correct, you should add 2 teaspoons of wheat germ to every one cup of white flour you use in baking. That will give you most of the goodness of whole wheat without all the extra fiber from the bran. (Some people don't do well with too much fiber). |
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anon163257
Post 63 |
you can use wheat germ instead of bread crumbs? |
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anon149725
Post 62 |
This stuff is so great. I add it in lots of recipes to up the fibre. Good if you're doing healthy eating in food tech at school like me. |
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anon148973
Post 60 |
all I can say. Is anything that is good does not last in the market, because it's all meant for profit and not for the well being of anyone! |
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anon135915
Post 54 |
I've gained muscle from mixing it with drinks. |
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anon132146
Post 53 |
does wheat germ let the body lose weight? |
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anon107383
Post 51 |
I'd like know if wheatgerm is present in bulgur wheat or cracked wheat. If yes does cooking destroy its nutritional properties? |
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cmusich
Post 50 |
My husband and I recently picked some up because of the high magnesium and iron content. We add it and flax granola to vanilla yogurt. Yum! We are trying to conceive. Is wheat germ a boost for the woman's reproductive system, as well? I saw that it is good for the sperm health (though it does not make the count higher.) |
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anon89263
Post 48 |
how much protein does 25 grams of wheatgerm have? |
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anon81240
Post 47 |
farz - thanks for all information. A couple of years ago, I bought a soap, containing "wheat germ" in a pharmacy in Le Mans, France. It was a miracle for my face skin. Now my brother in Le Mans tries to find it, but he can't find it. I think it's discontinued. Does any one know where to buy soap containing wheat germ? |
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anon80948
Post 46 |
I have read in 'truth exposing' health publications that the usual wheat germ that is sitting on the grocers shelf is already rancid, and pretty much useless. Your thoughts? |
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anon78522
Post 45 |
anon68324 and Helen- Wheatgerm does indeed have some gluten it it. If you have celiac disease, do not take wheat germ.
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anon75037
Post 44 |
what about the solubility of wheat germ in water or milk? |
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anon73201
Post 43 |
where can I get the wheat germ in Bhopal (m.p)India.
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anon68324
Post 41 |
Helen: wheat germ does not contain gluten. |
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anon58432
Post 39 |
wheat germ is good for people with muscle disease. take about a teaspoon a day. |
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anon56648
Post 38 |
Wheat germ is good most likely for everything. It can lower your bad cholesterol and raise your good one. F. Louiny |
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anon54110
Post 37 |
Can anyone tell me who supplies wheat germ in quantity. |
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anon52462
Post 36 |
Has anyone heard of the wheat containing estrogen in it? There are products that contain this female hormone product which can be bad on young girls and boys. Ex: Girls: it can make an underage girl have a early menstrual cycle, develop physically, facial hairs etc. Boys : It interferes with there becoming a man, the way they act, female ways can come about with long term use of wheat products that have estrogen in it, and a whole host of things. This it not good! Watch it! |
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anon50489
Post 35 |
which cereals have wheat germ? |
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anon48959
Post 34 |
i am a type 2 diabetic. would adding wheat germ to white flour make it good for baking my own bread, like say stone ground whole wheat, or the making of my own flour tortillas? |
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anon48786
Post 33 |
I need information about malting of wheat. Please can you help me on that? |
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anon44872
Post 32 |
Zinc in wheat germ is important for semen production. ZMA is a supplment of Zinc/Magnesium/Vit B6 and it's supposed to be taken on an empty stomach and before bed. I believe wheat germ will also do the trick. Only thing to note: don't take it with calcium foods such as milk, as calcium prohibits zinc absorption. |
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anon43554
Post 31 |
Wheat germ oil repairs sun damage. Also does wonders for your wrinkles. |
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anon39216
Post 30 |
I add it to my protein shakes/smoothies, like to do half wheat germ half whey protein powder. |
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anon37536
Post 29 |
I am starting an "Eat Clean diet" and it talks about wheat germ (and other good things), the recipes tell how much to put in, but I can't find where it says how much you should consume each day or how often. It does with the protein powder on the can, but not on the wheat germ bottle. thanks PL |
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anon34679
Post 28 |
Daily taken in the morning or night? |
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anon33871
Post 27 |
For 4616 Wheat germs are extracted on each grain mill but because the fat is removed from white flour to vitafeed for animal. Fat has impact on expiration date. Wheat germs are on whole flour.
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eatright
Post 26 |
Wheat germ is where the wheat protein or gluten is stored. |
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anon29950
Post 25 |
Storing wheat germ at 39*F(4*C)for more than six months will lose 10% of its vitamin E content. It is safe to use. |
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anon25724
Post 24 |
Is it necessary to purchase Wheat germ which has been refrigerated? And how should it be stored after opening the package? |
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anon22661
Post 23 |
If a person has gluten intolerance, would they be unable to eat wheat germ? |
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anon19957
Post 22 |
anon19786 you can extract dna from wheat germ by blending the tissue to disrupt cell walls and centrifuging at about 6000g. this will pull the cell walls and the nuclei into a pellet. the pellet can be resuspended and then precipitated using either the phenol technique or the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and NaCl technique. |
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anon19786
Post 21 |
a friend and I are going to do a school project on how to extract DNA from wheat germ.. any tips? We tried going to the library and the only place we found the phrase "wheat germ" in was the encyclopedia and that only gave us the basic definition. do you know how we could find more information?
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anon16110
Post 20 |
This is a response to anon14102. There is a way to combat type 2 diabetes. Simply put, correct diet and adequate exercise can reverse the onset of diabetes. Do research on carbohydrates and the glycemic load of the foods you consume daily. Since you have type 2 already, this means that your pancreas is in trouble. You need to give it a break from producing the hormone, insulin. You can do this through your diet.
Definitely continue taking your doctor prescribed medication. Along with your medication, try switching to a diet which is void of carbohydrates except those supplied from vegetables and limited fruits. This can work wonders for someone with type 2 diabetes, especially if supplemented with exercise. Cut out all bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, and other processed foods from your diet and add in lots of vegetables and see if this helps. I hope it does.
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anon15489
Post 19 |
anon14102, i'm a medical doctor in the US. as far as i know, wheat germ will not interact with any diabetes medicines. there is no medical cure for diabetes type 2, just medications to help control the symptoms. there is a lifestyle cure: dramatic weight loss, a healthy diet, and plenty of exercise for the rest of your life. it's hard to do, and very few people are able to pull it off, but those that do won't need to take any pills.
i've never heard of NONI juice. i don't know if it helps. it's unlikely to be a cure...if there was a cure for diabetes already available, some money-hungry pharmaceutical company would've figured it out and be marketing it already.
Editor's reply: thanks for your comments. in response to the earlier post, you may want to visit our articles, is there a cure for diabetes? and what is noni juice? for more information on the topics.
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almoska
Post 18 |
Yes their is a natural cure for diabetes. It is called NONI juice. some health food store carry it. Or you can search for it on Google. There are many who sell it. Tahition noni is way too expensive. What I suggest is use your blender and make some blueberry juice. Sweeten it with honey if necessary. Mix it with your Noni juice. drink as much as you can. You health is worth every penny. |
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anon14102
Post 17 |
I love the wheat germ and think that it packs a punch when it comes to the very needed vitamin and minerals we all need. My question is, will taking wheat germ interact with certain types of medications? I have type 2 diabetes and take pills twice a day, will eating wheat product or wheat germ interact with my medication? I do know that since being diagnosed with High Cholesterol back in the late 90's, and eating wheat germ and other wheat products as well avocados my cholesterol has dropped dramatically. So I know that it's good for your health. I also know changing my diet and becoming less of an couch potato and being more active physically helped. But is there any known cure for diabetes? If so; anyone, please inform me. |
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anon12927
Post 16 |
to anon9436
perhaps those percentages refer to US RDA ? not cumulative mass of product.
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anon11445
Post 15 |
Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) has actions very similar to insulin in promoting cell division and increasing cellular glucose transport. In the ileum it causes changes similar to Celiac disease – but without generating anti-gliadin antibodies – i.e. no Celiac diagnosis and no confirmation biopsy. It also appears to damage the brush border of the intestine, where lactase is produced. There may be many people out there diagnosed with lactose intolerance simply because their lactase has been knocked out by WGA. If I were lactose intolerant I’d cut out wheat for a few weeks then challenge with dairy to see if it is true lactose intolerance. These things are never simple. |
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anon9436
Post 14 |
"Kretschmer Wheat germ contains
Vitamin E 20%
Thiamin 10%
Folic Acid 20%
Phosphorous 10%
Magnesium 8%
Zinc 10%"
78% trace elements? Yer pullin' me leg. |
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anon8910
Post 12 |
To one of the above questions, NO wheat germ does not increase the amount of semen volume. I tried it and so I can tell you from my own personal experience that it will not increase volume. If you still don't believe me wheat germ is inexpensive and healthy so you can try for yourself (and it won't do you any harm).
There is only one product that I know that can dependably increase sperm volume but unfortunately it makes you blind (long term blindness) so I am not even going to name what it is here (because I do not think it is healthy for people to take it). |
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anon8545
Post 11 |
It's easy to sneak it into muffins. Just made some. It gives muffins a certain crunchiness that's pleasant. |
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anon8127
Post 10 |
Easy way to sneak it into your kid's foods: add it to a peanut butter sandwich. if they are used to crunchy peanut butter, they probably won't notice it. Or make bread and add it into the recipe.
My mom gave me peanut butter & honey & wheat germ sandwiches when I was little and called them "pooh bear sandwiches". I thought it was cool because it was called "pooh bear", and she was happy because I got the extra nutrients. A win-win!
Editor's reply: thanks for the tip!
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anon7675
Post 9 |
I have heard that wheat germ also increases the volume and thickness of semen. Is this true?
It's true .. Wheat germ has Zinc which is very important for Semen production. Also Vitamin E and Folic acid in it helps a lot. i highly recommend it. Good for the heart too!
Kretschmer Wheat germ contains Vitamin E 20% Thiamin 10% Folic Acid 20% Phosphorous 10% Magnesium 8% Zinc 10%
Allergic or not .. better try it out. One bottle of 11oz costs about $5.
Wheat germ has lot of fiber too. If you eat too-too much you will have loose motion.
No idea about Gluten. :( |
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anon7529
Post 8 |
Does wheat germ contain gluten? |
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anon7089
Post 7 |
I have heard that wheat germ also increases the volume and thickness of semen. Is this true? |
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anon6649
Post 6 |
Does wheat germ have gluten?...helen |
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olittlewood
Post 5 |
what are some ways i can get this into my kids' food? they are pretty picky, and sneaking this into their food would probably up the healthy quotient on their meals! also, is wheat germ good if you need to get extra fiber in your diet? |
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anon4616
Post 4 |
I need information about production of Wheat Germ in industrial scale ....can you guide me...? |
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anon650
Post 2 |
I am allergic to wheat grass, does that mean I can not take wheat flour or wheat germ? are they the same thing? |
