Wheat Germ Oil Review

Wheat Germ Oil is one of the most powerful natural compounds that most people have never heard about. However, thanks to recent publicity from medical journals and Doctor Oz, more and more people are discovering the benefits of wheat germ oil.

Dr. Oz advocated wheat germ oil back in 2011. Since then, it’s been prized around the world. Wheat Germ Oil is packed with nutrients and fatty acids and has been used to treat everything from cancer to arthritis. [See Dr Oz talk about Wheat Germ Oil in his Total 10 Weight Loss Plan]

Wheat germ oil is commonly used as a cooking oil and as a flavoring ingredient. It’s also used in cosmetic products. What exactly is wheat germ oil? What are its benefits? And why is it so expensive? Find out today in our wheat germ oil review.

What Is Wheat Germ Oil?

Wheat germ oil is the “embryo” of the wheat plant. When we refine whole wheat grains into white flour, the wheat germ is removed. Manufacturers remove the wheat germ because the healthy oils within the germ quickly become rancid, making it impossible to store wheat long-term.

The wheat germ, like all embryos, is packed with the ingredients needed to make a new wheat plant. It’s loaded with nutrients and fatty acids, all of which are required to make a new wheat plant grow healthy and strong.

Since wheat germ only makes up 3% of the wheat kernel, we need about 50 pounds of wheat to get one pound of wheat germ.

Wheat germ oil is simply the fermented form of wheat germ. It was invented in the early 1990s in Hungary. To make wheat germ oil, manufacturers take ordinary wheat germ and ferment it with baker’s year, increasing the concentration of naturally active compounds called benzoquinones. This fermentation increases the shelf life of wheat germ, which means you can more easily use it in your kitchen.

What Are the Benefits of Wheat Germ Oil?

Wheat germ oil is packed with vitamins, nutrients, protein, and fiber. Just two tablespoons of raw wheat germ have 1.5 grams of unsaturated fat, 4 grams of protein, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 9 grams of carbohydrates, and 2 grams of sugar. Two tablespoons contain just 60 calories and have no cholesterol.

In terms of specific vitamins and benefits, here’s how different ingredients help our body:

B Vitamins

Wheat germ oil contains valuable B vitamins like folate, vitamin B1 (thiamin), and vitamin B6. Our bodies use B vitamins to improve heart health and also create healthy mood chemicals in the brain. Overall, B vitamins play a critical role in everything from blood pressure to energy levels.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant which improves neuroprotection. That means your brain cells are less likely to degrade over time, which can improve mood, memory, and cognition. Vitamin E is also used to detoxify the liver and improve immune system functionality.

Fiber

Fiber plays a critical role in our body’s ability to regulate blood glucose and cholesterol levels. We also need fiber for intestinal and digestive health, where it helps our digestive system extract the maximum number of vitamins and nutrients out of the foods we eat. Fiber is also used to detoxify the body, expelling waste and cleansing our systems.

Phytoserols

Phytoserols may be the most important ingredient within wheat germ oil. Phytoserols are classified as steroid compounds and work in a similar way to cholesterol. They lower unhealthy cholesterol levels and promote good overall heart health. Studies have shown that eating small amounts of raw wheat germ every day for 14 weeks lowered total cholesterol by 7.2% and “bad” (LDL) cholesterol by 15.4%. It also reduced fat and sugar molecules in the blood by 11.3%.

We know phytoserols have this effect because when phytoserols are removed from wheat germ, nutritionists have observed that dieters don’t enjoy the same benefits or effects.

Healthy fatty acids

Wheat germ is also rich with omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to a diverse range of health benefits. They’ve been shown to act as anti-inflammatory and support a healthy nervous system, for example. Surprisingly, they’re also used to lower anxiety levels and elevate mood.

More Minerals

Wheat germ contains plenty of minerals, albeit in relatively small amounts. Those minerals include iron, zinc, magnesium, selenium, calcium, and manganese, all of which are required by our body for cellular repair and overall health.

How to Use Wheat Germ Oil

Most of us get more than enough wheat in our diet. However, since the wheat germ is removed during wheat processing, most of us are deficient in wheat germ.

Wheat germ oil is one easy way to fix that deficiency. Here are some ways to use wheat germ oil:

— Drizzle On Top Of Salads, Vegetables, Pasta, Pesto, Or Other Meals

— Massage Oil Blends (10% To 15% Concentration)

— Body Care And Cosmetic Products

When using wheat germ oil as a cooking ingredient, be sure to avoid heating it. You should also avoid using it around people who have wheat or gluten allergies.

Wheat germ itself also comes in the form of a coarse powder. You can sprinkle that powder over protein shakes, cereal, muffins, or yogurt to enjoy similar benefits listed above. Some people even make wheat germ tea!

Conclusion: Who Should Use Wheat Germ Oil?

Wheat germ oil has been used to treat a surprising range of conditions. A recent study published in the 2006 journal Clinical Experiments in Rheumatology showed that patients with severe arthritis were able to alleviate morning stiffness after 6 and 12 months of regular wheat germ oil supplementation.

Whether you’re using wheat germ oil as a cooking oil, baking ingredient, or as a simple health supplement, there are some surprising health benefits behind this nutrient-rich wheat extract.