Phenolics are compounds that have gained much attention in many scientific research areas due to their strong antioxidant properties which are thought to be beneficial to health. Scientists believe that they stop the reaction of free radicals with other molecules in your body, preventing damage to your DNA as well as long-term health affect phenolic compounds from medicinal herbs and dietary plants include phenolic acids, flavonoids, tannins, stilbenes, curcuminoids, coumarins, lignans, quinones, and others. Even lemon peel is high in phenolics.
Phenolic compounds in wheat grain
Predominant phenolics in cereals are benzoic acid derivatives such as gallic, vanillic and syringic acid and cinnamic acid derivatives such as ferulic, p-coumaric and caffeic acid, of which ferulic acid is the most potent in all cereals and makes from 70 to 90% of total.
The aleurone layer ( the outer layer of the grain) is the wheat fraction with the highest antioxidant activity, followed by the bran – which is why we recommend wholegrain and stoneground flour to make sourdough.