A cereal is known as a product intended for children's breakfast that, in addition to containing seeds or fruits, has sugar, salt and other additives.
The term cereal comes from the Latin cereālis and can be used to name the grass plants that produce farinaceous fruits . These same fruits, all the seeds of these plants and the foods made from these seeds are also known as cereals.
In the structure of the cereal, the germ can be recognized (which appears in the nucleus of the seed and allows the development of a new plant), the endosperm (a starchy or floury structure that surrounds the germ), the testa (the outer layer that covers the grain) and the shell (another layer, which covers the testa and protects it).
Cereal components
Cereals contain starch, lipids, cellulose, gluten and different proteins. All these components are basic in human nutrition . On the other hand, from cereals such as corn, for example, it is possible to make oils and resins.
The main cereal species are corn , wheat , oats , rice , rye , barley , sorghum and millet , among others. Depending on the treatment given to these cereals, different types of foods can be obtained.
Its importance in human nutrition
Since ancient times, the existence of cereals that are currently part of our diet has been known. Thus, for example, in the case of Spain, rice has become an essential food because it is not only eaten as a soup or in a salad but also as a fundamental ingredient to make one of the typical dishes of the country's gastronomy: paella.
It should also be noted that in China, rice is also an essential cereal in their diet.
In the case of rye and wheat, it must be emphasized that they are two cereals that are also known by the name bread-making. A qualification that is used to make it clear that both can be used, and are used, for the production of bread and all types of bakery products.
Rice is one of the most consumed cereals worldwide.
Cereals, gluten and flour
Among the most notable elements that are part of cereals, we should highlight, for example, gluten, which is very present in both the two aforementioned cereals and in barley. An element is one that is not accepted by the body of all people, thus there are individuals who are celiac , which means that they cannot consume any type of food that contains it. In this case, the usual thing is that they replace those mentioned with corn or rice, among others.
Flour , for example, is the fine powder obtained from ground cereal. Bran , for its part, is the result of another part of the grinding of cereal grains.
Products intended for children's consumption
Finally, it should be noted that certain foods that are intended for breakfast and that are usually recommended to be eaten by children are known as cereals. These are not natural cereals, but have added ingredients such as sugar and salt .
In the same way, we must not forget that when we refer to cereals we are talking about everything related to or belonging to the goddess of Roman mythology Ceres, who served as deity of the earth and agriculture.