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Grains are small, hard, dry seeds harvested for human or animal food. Agronomists also call the plants producing such seeds grain crops. Grain foods play an very important role in our diet, for several reasons.

First of all, grain-based foods contain complex carbohydrates, essential fuel for the body; they are also rich in iron, folic acid, B vitamins, potassium, selenium and magnesium. Finally, whole grains are a great source of fiber and are naturally low in fat.

Carbohydrates are the main constituent of grains and thequantity varies according to the type. A generic composition for the calorie content is:

• carbohydrates, 65% to 90%
• proteins 7% to 15%
• fats, the remainder (contained within the germ).

You won't find any cholesterol or saturated fat in grains, which are well-known causes to several health problems. The proteins found in grains are very useful for your body, but they lack some of the essential elements that only can be obtained from animal sources.

Sources:
hsph.harvard.edu - Health Gains from Whole Grains
gowiththegrain.org

List of grains