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Which of the following statements is true ?
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- Dehusked cereals and pulses are more nutritious
- Whole grain cereals and pulses are more nutritious
- Processed cereal products are nutrient dense
- Breakfast cereals are nutrient dense
- Dehusked cereals and pulses are more nutritious
Correct Option: B
Cereal and pulse crops are staple foods that provide essential nutrients to many populations of the world. Traditionally, whole grains were consumed but most current foods are derived from refined fractions of cereal and pulse crops. Consumption of processed or refined products may reduce the health benefits of food. In wheat-based processed foods, for example, the removed 40% of the grain (mainly the bran and the germ of the wheat grain) contains the majority of the health beneficial components. These components, particularly non-essential phytoche-micals such as carotenoids, polyphenols, phytosterols/ stanols, and dietary fibers, have been shown to reduce the risk of major chronic diseases of humans, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and Parkinson’s disease. Such bioactives are therefore good candidates for ingredients of nutraceuticals and functional foods.