Difference Between White and Whole Wheat

June 2022 · 5 minute read

Both white wheat and whole wheat is made from the same grain, wheat. Even though they share the same source, they have many differences in between. They are processed differently, and they have different textures and usage. One might wonder how the two products can be different when the source is the same. Well, the answer is in the article.

White Wheat vs Whole Wheat

The main difference between white and whole wheat is that white flour is made with only one part of the wheat, whereas whole wheat flour uses whole wheat to be prepared. White flour is smooth and milk-white coloured, but whole wheat flour is kind of brown coloured and not refined or smooth in texture. White wheat is not very beneficial for health, but whole wheat is proven to be healthy.

White wheat flour is named that way for its white colour. It is very smooth and refined. It is made with the endosperm of wheat. It is a starchy part of wheat. In white wheat, the healthiest parts get removed. So this wheat flour is not very beneficial and nutritious for the body.

Whole flour takes the whole wheat to be made. The bran, endosperm and also the germ gets mixed in whole wheat. It has a rough texture, but its nutritious food values are great for our bodies. The amount of fibre present in it is high and thus keeps our digestive system active.

Comparison Table Between White and Whole Wheat

Parameters of ComparisonWhite WheatWhole Wheat
Made ofWhite wheat flour is made of the endosperm part of the wheat.Whole wheat flour is made with all the parts of wheat.
Nutritional valuesWhite wheat flour is not considered very healthy.Whole wheat flour is healthy and filled with fibre and nutrients.
Digestive natureWhite wheat flour is not easily digested in our stomachs.Food made with whole wheat flour is comparatively easier to digest.
Food itemsBaked food items, for instance, doughnuts, brownies and cupcakes get made with white wheat.Whole wheat flour is used for everyday meals like chapatis and bread.
ColourWhite flour, as its name suggests, is white in colour.Whole wheat flour is brown in colour.
TextureIt is smooth.It is coarse.
Calcium and fibre100g white flour has 15mg calcium and 2.7g fibre in it.100g whole flour contains 34mg calcium and 11g fibre.

What is White Wheat?

Baking goods are incomplete without white flour, cookies, doughnuts, brownies, cupcakes. Everything has while wheat as their main ingredient. Its smooth texture can produce the perfect baked snacks. But nutritious elements are not its main objective. In the making of white wheat, the most nutrition filled bodies get excluded and thus, not many nutrients get to enter the white wheat.

Its lack of nutrients can even intrude on the healthy digestive system. It has the potential to affect health in an unfavourable way. White wheat has more calories than whole wheat, but the other nutrition values are less in quantity. Calcium potassium and iron level appear very low in white wheat when it is compared to whole wheat. White wheat should not be consumed on a daily basis. Even in baking goods, we should mix white and whole wheat to trim down the damage.

What is Whole Wheat?

Whole wheat flour appears as the healthier flour when compared to others. Usually, wheat consists of 3 parts. And all these 3 parts get used in making whole flour, the bran, the endosperm and the germ. The bran part has fibres in abundance, and the germ of wheat is filled with several nutrients. This is why this type of wheat is very healthy for us.

Whole wheat gets used in our everyday life, and we continue to use it as a part of the meal because scientific research has shown how beneficial it is. Research conducted by the French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment tell us that whole wheat has the potential to protect us against cancer. It is also helpful to reduce obesity and diabetes. The nutrients are plenty and also useful for a healthy digestive system.

Main Differences Between White and Whole Wheat

  • Wheat, a grain that is made of mainly 3 parts, the bran, the endosperm and the germ. White wheat flour takes only the endosperm part to get made. But whole wheat flour, as its name implies, is made of whole wheat, that is, all the three parts of the wheat.
  • White flour, justifying its name implies, has white colour, whereas whole wheat has a brown colour.
  • White wheat flour is smooth and ideal for baking. White whole wheat flour is not smooth but somewhat coarse.
  • White wheat is not very easy to digest as it has a low level of fibre in it. While on the other hand, whole wheat is filled with fibre and is good for our digestive system.
  • White wheat flour does not have many health benefits. On the contrary, it may cause harm to our health. But whole wheat flour offers several health benefits, including fighting obesity, cancer, etc.
  • White flour is best suited for baking goods, and whole wheat flour is for making everyday food items like bread.
  • Conclusion

    We can say that whole wheat is healthier than white wheat flour without any doubt. White flour eliminates all the nutrients and thus have no nutritious value. Rather it has the potential to damage our health. But whole wheat is healthy and possess nutrients in abundance. This is why whole wheat has made its way to our daily meals. Whole wheat is wholesome. Its fibre keeps our stomach and digestive system active.

    In order to make the baking food items a bit healthy, one can mix whole flour with white flour. In this way, your stomach will be able to digest the food better.

    References

  • http://The nutritive value of white and whole wheat breads.
  • https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf0494736
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