WHEAT

Geek talk: Triticum vulgare But we talk: Wheat, Trigo & Gehun, Godimai Description: Wheat is probably the oldest example of hybridization in agriculture. It is a cross between 3 different species of grass and the human ability almost 10,000 years ago to cultivate wheat probably resulted in the development of human communities and ended the peripatetic hunter gatherer existence of man. More land is used for wheat cultivation than any other crop though in terms of production it is second only to Corn (Maize).  World trade in wheat is greater than for all other crops combined.[1] Globally, wheat is the leading source of vegetable protein in human food, having a higher protein content than soybeans or the other major cereals, maize (corn) or rice.[2]  These items on a food label indicate the presence of wheat: durum, semolina, maida, farina, bran, bulgur, graham, patent, wheat germ, thickener, and flour. Gluten, gliadin, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, starch and monosodium glutamate are also present in Wheat. Wheat originated in the “cradle of civilization” in the Tigris and Euphrates river valley, Iraq thousand years ago and has been grown in Canada for at least two centuries. The Roman goddess, Ceres, who was deemed protector of the grain, gave grains their common name today – “cereal.”[3] Top five producers of wheat are China, India, Russian Federation, US and France. Dutch wheat farms are the most productive in terms of yield per hectare.[4]. Kitchen Pharmacy: The study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition describes the importance of whole wheat rather than refined to maintain a healthy body weight. Wheat bran contains phytochemicals such as phytic acid and lignins that have shown to inhibit in vitro and in vivo growth of mammary cancer. The protective effect of wheat bran in breast carcinogenesis is greatest at the promotional phase when supplemented to a high fat diet.[5]  Nutrition: 1 Slice of Whole wheat bread

Origin: Romania

  References:

1. Curtis; Rajaraman; MacPherson (2002). "Bread Wheat". Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 
2.  "Nutrient data laboratory". United States Department of Agriculture. 
3. http://www.wheatworld.org/wheat-info/fast-facts/ 
4.  "FAOSTAT: Production-Crops, 2010 data". Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2011. 
5. PubMed: Peña-Rosas JP; Rickard S; Cho S (2009). Wheat bran and breast cancer