Comparing Nutritional Values of Various Whole Grains

We all know that white flour, white bread, white rice, etc., are nutritionally bankrupt, and that their whole grain counterparts are great sources of fiber, magnesium, Vitamin E, folate, and antioxidants. Although all whole grains are superior to their white or refined counterparts, the various whole grains do differ in nutrient density. We’ve looked into the nutritional profile of common whole grains, and compare their nutritional values. Based on our analysis, here is what we found.

How Whole Grains Stack Up Nutritionally

(per 1 cup cooked serving)

Highest in Protein

1st Place: Spelt

Grains not only supply carbohydrates to fuel our bodies, they can also be a good source of plant-based protein. For example, one cup of cooked spelt provides 10.7 grams of protein and quinoa has 8.1 grams.

Best Source of Fiber

1st Place: Bulgur

Whole grains enjoy a well-deserved reputation of being a great source of fiber. That’s because whole grains contain all 3 parts of a grain – bran, endosperm, and germ. Bran is the fiber-rich part that forms the outer layer of a grain. Some whole grains contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, while others only provide mostly insoluble fiber. The highest fiber whole grain is bulgur; it has 8.3 grams of insoluble fiber. Spelt is a close second with 7.6 grams of insoluble fiber. Barley, on the other hand, supplies both soluble and insoluble fiber, totaling 6 grams per cup, while quinoa has 5.2 grams of the same combination.

Top Magnesium

1st Place: Quinoa

Magnesium is an important mineral that may help prevent and control hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Quinoa made it to the top magnesium grain, providing 118 mg of magnesium, while runner-up spelt has 95 mg per 1 cup cooked serving.

Full of Folate

1st Place: Quinoa

Folate is most known for its role in preventing neural tube defects in babies when consumed during pregnancy. Again, quinoa tops all other whole grains with 78 mg folate per 1 cup cooked serving. Wild rice is a distant second with 43 mg.

Top Source of Vitamin E

1st Place: Quinoa

Certain whole grains are also rich in Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant. The nutrition powerhouse quinoa takes 1st place with 1.17 mg of Vitamin E, while spelt and wild rice also made it to the top 3 with 0.5 mg and 0.39 mg Vitamin E respectively.

The Bottom Line

Despite the fact that only a few kinds of whole grains made it onto the above list, all whole grains are exceptionally nutritious and can add variety to your dinner table. Quinoa and spelt are especially stellar in many nutrients, so be sure to try them instead of your boring white rice if you haven’t already done so!