Wheat bran is well known for providing a significant source of dietary fiber, but it is also a great source of minerals and some vitamins.

Whole grains are important for us to eat because they provide fiber, vitamins and minerals and can even reduce the risk of certain chronic health problems such as diabetes and colon cancer. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, most people are confused about what constitutes a whole grain.

Whole grain rice, also known as brown rice, is simply white rice that hasn't been hulled. During the hulling process, whole grain rice is stripped of its outer bran and germ components, leaving just the endosperm. This is what we commonly know as white rice.

Quinoa is considered a grain-type food that has been a staple in the South American diet and is gaining interest among Americans because of the great health benefits it offers and its versatility.

The Food Allergy and Anaphylactic Network states that most wheat and grain allergies are experienced in childhood and outgrown by adulthood. A wheat allergy can occur at any age and needs to be evaluated and diagnosed by a medical doctor.

The Harvard School of Public Health recommends whole-grain carbohydrates instead of a carb-free diet for healthy, safe and effective weight loss. Carbohydrates come in all types of foods, from grains to fruits and vegetables.

Diverticular disease is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder with two distinct phases. Diverticulosis, the chronic phase of the disorder, causes small pouches to bulge outward at weak points along the inner lining of your large intestine, or colon.

Steel cut oats could be considered a "power food" because they are an excellent source of protein, soluble and insoluble fiber and select vitamins and minerals. The benefits of steel cut oats exceed the benefits of rolled oats because of the way they are processed.

Oats are used anywhere from breakfast, to dinner and to baking. However, despite their multiple uses, there are those that cannot eat them due to health reasons, such as a gluten allergy. Luckily, if you cannot eat oats, there are many other replacement options out there for you to enjoy.

Oat bran is the outer husk of the oat grain, which is high in beta-glucan, a type of soluble fiber that can decrease cholesterol if consumed on a daily basis, according to Canadian nutritionist Leslie Beck, RD. A half cup of oat bran cereal contains 3g of beta-glucan and may help decrease the risk of heart disease.

When adopting a raw food diet, you do not have to give up quinoa. Quinoa is treated like a grain in cooked preparations, but is actually a seed that may be sprouted and eaten raw. The seed originated in Latin America, where it has been used for thousands of years.

With medicines, insulin and diet, you, the diabetic, can control your disease and often sidestep its complications. The most worrisome food group in the diabetic’s diet, the carbohydrate group, also goes by the name “carbs.” Understanding carbs helps you make confident food choices.