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There is enormous interest in wholegrains because their regular consumption has been associated with better health and vitality and a reduction in chronic disease risk
(see below).  We use in all our products at least 51% BARLEYmax which is a wholegrain cereal of the type health authorities recommend we consume each day.
What is a wholegrain?
Wholegrains retain all three components of the natural grain, including the bran, germ and endosperm. When grains are refined, one or more of these parts are removed.

Health Benefits of wholegrain
Almost daily a new super food or ingredient is promoted as the answer to our chronic disease problems. All too often these claims are based upon inadequate research leaving the public confused as to which foods are likely to deliver meaningful health benefits.
In contrast, the population studies linking regular wholegrain consumption to better health and well-being are impressive and consistent. Good quality research published in credible journals by reputable scientists reflect the value of wholegrains in addressing some of the most pressing chronic disease issues.
Wholegrains are associated with a lower risk of the following conditions:
Heart disease and stroke – Research shows a 20-40% reduction in heart disease risk for people eating the most wholegrains.
Weight control – Wholegrain foods not only provide volume, but are also high in fibre and complex carbohydrates, making you feel full longer and less likely to snack.
Type 2 diabetes – People consuming the most wholegrains have been found to have a 20 – 30% reduction in risk of diabetes.
Bowel health and regularity – The fibre found in wholegrains helps improve digestive health.
Cholesterol and blood pressure – Wholegrains containing soluble fibre, such as barley, have the capacity to help reduce LDL cholesterol levels. The increased intake of wholegrains has also been linked to lower blood pressure.
Cancer – Regularly consuming wholegrains may reduce the risk of developing colon cancer by 30-40%.

For all health claims made in this article, please refer to the full BarleyMax Report for a list of sources.

The Potency of Wholegrains
Wholegrain foods offer even greater protection than other foods commonly promoted for heart health.
Increasing fruit and vegetable intake can reduce the risk of heart disease by 10-15% while increasing wholegrains to four serves a day can reduce heart disease risk by up to 40%.

What makes Wholegrains so healthy?
Wholegrains are naturally rich in a number of important nutrients that work together to improve health outcomes. Nutrients like:

• Protein For cell growth and repair
• Fibre For good digestive health
• Vitamins Both B group as well as vitamin E
• Minerals Calcium, zinc, magnesium and iron
• Antioxidants May reduce the impact of damaging compounds such as free radicals

Not all Wholegrains are equal
BARLEYmax has superior quantities of fibre compared to other wholegrains and delivers much more of all three important fibre types – soluble fibre, insoluble fibre and resistant starch.
In fact, BARLEYmax is the highest fibre wholegrain with resistant starch.
How much Wholegrains do you need?
The current dietary guidelines recommend we should eat at least four serves of grain-based foods everyday. At least half of these serves should be wholegrains.
This works out to be 48grams of wholegrain per day.
Research has shown that only 34% of Australian men and 21% of women meet the recommended number of wholegrain servings each day.

DID YOU KNOW?
Australian men need to triple their intake of wholegrains while women need to increase their intake five fold in order to meet recommended levels.

Wholegrains- A nutritional powerhouse!
Wholegrains naturally contain literally hundreds of antioxidants, phytonutrients plus vitamins, fibre, protein and minerals all working together to deliver real benefits to those who include them regularly in their diet.
Once a grain is refined, there can be considerable loss of nutrients, so it is advisable to ensure at least half of your grain servings each day are wholegrain.
Wholegrains for breakfast?
Wholegrain foods can be consumed at any time throughout the day. However, breakfast provides a great opportunity to make a wholegrain start to the day and research shows that this can have a significant impact on health.
In a large study17 to examine the effect of wholegrain breakfast cereals on the risk of cardiovascular disease, researchers examined the intakes of breakfast cereals reported by over 92,000 male physicians in the US. They found that over the five years of the study, men who consumed one or more servings of wholegrain breakfast cereals per day had a 20% lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to men who rarely consumed wholegrain breakfast cereals.

For all health claims made in this article, please refer to the full BarleyMax Report for a list of sources.
“The intake of wholegrain foods clearly protects against heart disease and stroke.”
“Carbohydrate-rich foods should be wholegrain.”
Ingrid Flight and Peter Clifton, CSIRO

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