5 Great Whole Grains You Should Eat And Why Whole grains should play an important role in people's diets, as they can have a very positive impact on your health. The term “whole grain” refers to a grain food’s natural state, where the entire seed is kept intact. The seed is composed of 3 edible parts – the bran, the germ, and the endosperm. All of these parts hold essential nutrients, as opposed to, processed grains, which, include, white rice, white bread and white pasta that are milled to remove the bran and germ, leaving only the endosperm intact.