Wheat Germ….we’ve all heard of it, right?
We kinda know it’s something that’s good for us – well, at least I kinda did.
Then, I was sent a coupon for a container of Kretschmer Wheat Germ and found out that wheat germ is awesome and like the Original SUPERFOOD.
Technically speaking, wheat germ is the embryo of the wheat plant. Sadly this part of the plant is removed when the wheat grains are refined into flour. This is so unfortunate because wheat germ contains so many good nutrients (23 if you’re counting which is more per ounce than any other vegetable or grain), protein (28 percent protein which is higher than levels found in most meats – if you need another reason to forego eating animals) and the all-important fiber (which helps with cholesterol maintenance, stabilizing blood sugar and all-around intestinal health). It also contains B vitamins (folate, B1 and B6), and vitamins A and E.
Wheat germ is also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids which can help lower cholesterol, lower overall inflammation and support a healthy nervous system and healthy heart.
Here’s some more nutritional information about wheat germ:
Now, unfortunately, if you’re gluten sensitive, have Celiac’s disease or any other wheat or gluten allergies, you should stay away from wheat gluten. Though I did read that sometimes people with a gluten sensitivity use wheat germ in their recipes since the gluten content can be fairly low – know your body and try this at your own risk.
Because wheat germ can go rancid easily (due to it’s content of unsaturated fats – which makes storing it more difficult and is why so many companies remove this healthy part), you should store an opened jar in your refrigerator to keep it fresh longer.
So, now that you know how super good and healthy wheat germ is for you, are you wondering what to do with it? This part is easy! Simply sprinkle some in your morning smoothies (or protein shakes) over your oatmeal or cereal, or over casseroles or salads – I’ve even been adding some to my stir-frys and atop my oven roasted veggies. Also, if you like adding granola to your non-dairy yogurts, adding wheat germ provides a lower-fat alternative to granola.
If you love to bake, you can add wheat germ right into your recipes by replacing a half to a whole cup of flour with it – though you should also add one to two tablespoons of water for each quarter cup you replace in your recipe with wheat germ.
Are you already a Kretschmer Wheat Germ fan? Let me know and please share how you use it. I will definitely be trying out new recipes with mine – next up, cauliflower tossed with a little coconut oil, some wheat germ, a little mustard and some salt and pepper then popped in the over to roast – YUM! I’ll keep you posted on how it goes!
I’ve even started a Pinterest board on wheat germ recipes!
Visit the Kretschmer Wheat Germ site for more wheat germ recipes!
Happy Friday,
P.S. while I was sent a coupon to try Kretschmer Wheat Germ, the opinions above are my own – I did LOVE it and will happily continue using it and benefiting from this healthy superfood!
