Grains and cereals

The word cereal derives from Ceres, the name of the Roman goddess of harvest and agriculture. The first cereal grains were domesticated by early primitive humans. About 8,000 years ago, they were domesticated by ancient farming communities in the Fertile Crescent region. 

Wholegrain cereals are a rich source of many essential vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals.  Cereals and wholegrain foods can reduce the risk of developing certain diseases including coronary heart disease, colon cancer, diabetes and diverticular disease. Common cereal foods include bread, breakfast cereals and pasta. The two main types of commercial grain crops are cereals such as wheat and rye, and legumes such as beans and soybeans. 

Grains include wheat, barley, oat, rye, corn, rice, millet and triticale. Wholegrains include wholemeal or wholegrain breads or crispbreads, dark 'seedy' breads, wholegrain breakfast cereals, wheatgerm, brown rice, puffed whole grains, bulgur, quinoa, couscous, popcorn and oatmeal. Export Portal offers you all types of grains, wholegrains and cereals to buy or sell in any country! 

Grain legumes or pulses are members of the pea family and include lentil, chickpeas, common beans, common peas, fava beans, lima beans, lupins, mung beans, peanuts, pigeon peas, runner beans and soybeans. All of them are very nutritious and have numerous health benefits.

There are also oilseeds - these are grains grown primarily for the extraction of their edible oil. Vegetable oils provide dietary energy and some essential fatty acids. They can be used as fuel or lubricants.

You have to keep in mind that cereal grains are now divided into 2 subgroups: 

1. Whole Grains
2. Refined Grains

Whole grains contain the entire grain kernel - the bran, germ, and endosperm. Examples of whole grains include whole-wheat flour, bulgur (cracked wheat), oatmeal, whole cornmeal, and brown rice. Refined grains have been milled, a process that removes the bran and germ. This is done to give grains a finer texture and improve their shelf life, but it also removes dietary fiber, iron, and many B vitamins. Some examples of refined grain products are white flour, de-germed cornmeal, white bread, and white rice.

When grains are refined, the bran and germ layers are generally removed, leaving only the endosperm. This process can cause significant losses of fibre, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals from the grains. Some fibre, vitamins and minerals may be added back into refined cereal products (such as white bread), which compensates for losses, but it is impossible to add the mix of phytochemicals that is lost in the processing.

Find cereals for sale and wholegrain foods at Export Portal, look for grain trading suppliers and rice exporters here to find the best prices on agri-good products!