Where Does Wheat Germ Oil Come From?
Wheat Germ Wheat germ oil begins with a harvested grain of wheat. The structure of the wheat seed is largely starch intended to nourish a growing new plant as it first sprouts. The grain is covered with a high-cellulose skin, called bran, and is tipped at the bottom with the germ: the tiny fertilized bit of the seed that would actually sprout. This tiny fraction of the wheat kernel is high in oil. Bran and Germ The bran and germ are usually removed from wheat kernels before milling. Many people dislike the gritty texture and often bitter flavor of the bran and germ when ground into a true whole wheat flour. Even more problematic for milling companies, the oil in the germ of wheat goes rancid within a matter of weeks, reducing the shelf life of flour substantially. For this reason, most millers automatically remove the bran and germ from wheat kernels. Getting the Oil Back Unfortunately, for our diets, the vitamin E and other nutrients present in wheat oil make up part of a balanced die
