Scientific research has shown wholegrains, particularly cereals, to have health benefits. As part of a low fat diet wholegrains may reduce the risk of certain diseases, including:

• Maintaining a healthy heart/coronary heart disease
• Digestive health/bowel disease
• Maintaining blood sugar levels/diabetes
• Some types of cancers e.g. bowel and stomach

Wholegrains play such an important part in a healthy diet because they contains a 'package' of nutrients and plant derived protective elements.

Two of the main benefits of wholegrain are:

• They are high in dietary fibre, helping to maintain a healthy digestive system
  
• The germ contains a form of vitamin E , an antioxidant vitamin
  

A diet rich in wholegrains also tends to be high in fibre and low in fat. Thus, as part of a healthy balanced diet, a large serving of wholegrain should be encouraged at every mealtime to help maintain a healthy heart and maximise health.