Whole grain contain 28 lbs.
Fine Flour, " 20 "
Bran, " 60 "
So that the bran is much richer in fat than the interior part of the
grain, and the whole grain ground together (whole meal) richer than the
finer part of the flour in the proportion of nearly one half.
2. _The muscular matter._ I have had no opportunity as yet of
ascertaining the relative proportions of this ingredient in the bran and
fine flour of the same sample of grain. Numerous experiments, however,
have been made in my laboratory, to determine these proportions in the
fine flour and whole seed of several varieties of grain. The general
result of these is, that the whole grain uniformly contains a larger
quantity, weight for weight, than the fine flour extracted from it does.
The particular results in the case of wheat and Indian corn were as
follows:--A thousand pounds of the whole grain and of the fine flour
contained of muscular matter respectively,--
_Whole grain._ _Fine Flour._
Wheat, 156 lbs. 130 lbs.
Indian Corn, 140 110
Of the material out of which the animal muscle is to be formed, the
whole meal or grain of wheat contains one-fifth more than the finest
flour does. For maintaining muscular strength, therefore, it must be
more valuable in an equal proportion.
3. _Bone material and Saline matter._--Of these mineral constituents, as
they may be called, of the animal body, a thousand pounds of bran, whole
meal and fine flour, contain respectively,--
Bran, 700 lbs.
Whole meal, 170 "
Fine flour, 60 "
So that in regard to this important part of our food, necessary to all
living animals, but especially to the young who are growing, and to the
mother who is giving milk--the whole meal is three times more nourishing
than the fine flour.
Our case is now made out. Weight for weight, the whole grain or meal is
more rich in all these three essential elements of a nutritive food,
than the fine flour of wheat. By those whose only desire is to sustain
their health and strength by the food they eat, ought not the whole meal
to be preferred? To children who are rapidly growing, the browner the
bread they eat, the more abundant the supply of the materials from which
their increasing bones and muscles are to be produced. To the
milk-giving mother, the same food, and for a similar reason, is the most
appropriate.
A glance at their mutual relations in regard to the three substances,
presented in one view, will show this more clearly. A thousand pounds of
each contain of the three several ingredients the following proportions.
Whole meal. Fine flour.
Muscular matter, 156 lbs. 130 lbs.
Bone material, 170 " 60 "
Fat, 28 " 20 "