Wheatgerm Supplements
Description
Wheat germ is noted for its dense nutritional content. Millions choose wheat germ as a nutritional supplement. It is available in a powdered form, to sprinkle over food, as a breakfast cereal, or as a concentrated oil and even in the form of a crystalline derivative. Some people (20% are allergic to wheat) cannot tolerate wheat germ oil, while others worry about the fat calories, but they can, usually, ingest crystalline octacosanol, the principle sterol in wheat germ oil.
10 pounds of whole wheat are concentrated to provide 1 gm of octacosanol. Wheat germ may be available in several forms : oil, powder and toasted.
Method of Action
One component (octacosonol) has been identified as the portion of wheat germ oil primarily responsible for lowering cholesterol and improving oxygen utilization.
Therapeutic Approaches
Experiments with wheat germ in the 1950s frequently involved athletes and benefits to physiological parameters, like endurance.
Muscular dystrophies and other neuromuscular disorders (e.g. ALS and Parkinson’s) have proven responsive in some individuals to wheat germ oil concentrate.
Toxicity Factors
Some difficulties may occur digesting wheat products or lipids (fats) although most people do not realize this as their problem without medical guidance.
References
Cureton, T.K. Med. Sportiva 1958 (12): 259-63.
Hughes, G.S. et al.: Lack of effect of beta-carotene on lipids and sex steroid hormones in hyperlipidemics. Am. J. Med. Sci. 1994,308(1):16-22.
Kirschmann, John D. Nutrition Almanac: Nutrition Search. McGraw-Hill: New York. 1984.
Kreutner, Patricia A. Nutrition In Perspective. Prentice-Hall: Englewood Cliffs. 1980.
United States Department of Agriculture. Composition of Foods: Fats and Oils-Raw-Processed-Prepared. Washington D.C. 1979.
| Signup Free Applied Health Journal |
||||
|
FREE Sample Issue Your email address is all we need to start you on a better path to health. We respect your privacy.
|
