This document summarizes the health benefits of various cereal products as functional foods. It discusses common cereals like wheat, rice, oats, barley and corn. Wheat bran contains fiber, proteins and antioxidants. Rice bran is high in nutrients and contains antioxidants that can lower cholesterol. Oats are high in soluble fiber and have cholesterol-lowering properties that may reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Cereals provide important nutrients but also have properties like antioxidants, fiber and minerals that promote health and reduce disease risk when consumed regularly.

1. Cereal products as
functional foods
Submitted to – Rahul Thory
Submitted by – Pritika
Msc food sc. & tech.

2. Introduction :
• Cereals are the rich source of energy, protein,
carbohydrate, B-complex vit. and minerals.
• Also a rich source of phytate (salts of Ca, Mg,
and K)
• Abundant source of phenolic acid
(antioxidant, anticarcinogenic activity)

3. Common cereals :
• Wheat
• Rice
• Oat
• Barley
• Corn
• Rye

4. Wheat bran
• Structure – endosperm, germ, bran layer.
• Major component is cellulose.
• Contain protein, omega3 , omega6 fatty acids
and antioxidants.
• 15-24% dietary fibre in wheat bran.
• 36% of fibre is digested by human.

5. Health benefits:
• Reduces the risk of coronary heart disease.
• Reduce tumour mass.
• Reduces the risk of developing type II
diabetes.
• Have colon-cancer protective effects.
• Reduce bacterial enzyme activities.

6. RICE
• Rice is the most important cereal product in
Asia and is an overwhelming staple food in
most populations.
• Excellent source of calories and provide
proteins with high nutritional value.
• Hypo allergic , easily digested & versatile
functional properties.

7. Rice Bran
• Bran layers of the rice kernel contain the
highest concentration of nutrients.
• Extracted for oil and it’s a potential source of
protein & other nutrients.
• Phosphorous in the form of phytates, major
source of mineral constitute of rice bran.
• Abundant in B-complex vit. , tocopherols.

8. Health Benefits :
• Reduces serum cholestrol level.
• Decreases microflora enzymes.
• Possess natural antioxidants (tocopherols ,
tocotrienols ,oryzanols )
• Lowers the amount of bile absorption/
reabsorption of and endogenous lipid by the
lower intestinal tract and promotes the
synthesis of more bile acids from available
cholestrol.

9. Rice Bran Oil
• Oil content of clean rice bran is 20-22% which
is similar to soyabean and cottonseed.
• Excellent for frying foods giving low peroxide,
foam, free fatty acid and polymer formation.

10. Oat
• Oats (Avena sativa) are a cereal commonly
eaten in the form of oatmeal or rolled oats.
• Oats are loaded with dietary fiber (containing
more than any other grain) and have a range
of healthy cholesterol-lowering properties.
• Active ingrident of oat is soluble fibre (1-3)
(1-4)-B-D-glucan.

11. Health benefits :
• Oats may reduce the risk of coronary artery
disease.
• Oats may help lower the risk of colorectal
cancer.
• Oats may help lower blood pressure.
• Stabilizes blood sugar and reduces risk of
diabetes.
• Oats Help Control Blood Pressure.