Close-up on a wheat berry

When you look closely at a grain of wheat -- which is also called a wheat berry -- -it has the color and shape of a French baguette. Amazing!
Wheat berries have many nutritional benefits. The seven outer layers of bran are like a protective shell or envelope and are a good source of fiber; the tiny germ at the base of each kernel is rich in vitamins and minerals and is where the seed will sprout or "germinate" its roots. The center or "heart" of each grain, called the endosperm, is the source of white flour after the bran and the germ have been sifted out. It is made mostly of carbohydrates and proteins.

Click here to see a larger version of this diagram.
Diagram courtesy of The Wheat Food Council

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