Nutrition
Health benefits of wheat
Wheat flour is a powder made from the grinding of wheat used for human consumption.
1. For healthy skin and hair
The main benefit of wheat flour is that it has a positive effect on our body. It contains selenium, an antioxidant that is an essential element to fight against harmful infections. It also helps the scalp from g etting dry and prevents dandruff. The whole wheat grain has a zinc and vitamin E element that helps in getting lustrous hair, nourishes the hair and protects them from damage. It also helps in skintightening and anti-ageing.
2. Aids digestion
The richness of fibre present in the whole wheat grain has multi -dimensional effects on our body. It is not only good for aiding good digestion but also helps in clearing harmful toxins from the body. The antibacterial properties of whole wheat grain help in the reduction of the adverse effects of digestive tracts and help to improve the interstitial health tract. With a good digestive system, the overall health of the body also improves. It has a positive effect on the skin and hair.
3. Prevents weight gain
Researches suggest that eating rich fibre food can help in the re duction of weight and lowers the risk of obesity. Studies also suggest that whole wheat grain helps to cut down the bad fat from the body and helps in the distribution in the body. In fact, it was also suggested that if a person is having three meals of whole wheat grain daily then the body mass index (BMI) will be lowered.
4. High in nutrients and fibre
Whole wheat flour is rich in vitamins, fibres, magnesium, zinc an d proteins. The whole wheat has a high content of zinc. It is also a rich source of Vitamin B. It contains a good amount of minerals such as zinc, iron, magnesium, and manganese. Antioxidants are also found in whole wheat.
5. Cleanses the system
Wheat stimulates clean blood and eliminates harmful bacteria which is considered the best detox diet. Diseases such as headache, joint pain and bloating can be relaxed with the consumption of whole wheat grain. Consumption of wheat helps in reviving constipation because of the presence of fibre that detoxifies the system and maintains a healthy colon and intestine.
6. Reduction in chronic inflammation
Inflammation is the cause of many chronic diseases. One of the main benefits of using wheat flour is that it reduces inflammation. Adding whole wheat to your diet can not only help in the reduction of infl ammation but also reduces the risk of chronic diseases.
7. Improves mental health
The fact is that vitamin B and E, which are present in whole wheat help in energy generation and also maintains the healthy DNA in the body.
Vitamin B is said to comprise eight classes of vitamins. Of these, the Vitamin B complex is the most known but it is water-soluble by nature, our body cannot retain this vitamin. Therefore including Vitamin B complex in our diet is good for inflammatory regulations in the brain and s ubclinical mental illness. Vitamin E is a good source of preventing memory-related diseases.
8. Lowers the risk of heart diseases
The biggest health benefit of using whole grains is that it lowe rs therisk of heart disease. Studies show that three (28-gram) meals of whole grains daily are good for the health of the heart. Researchers found that whole grain diets are good for maintaining a healthy heart over refine d grains.
9. Reduces the risk of cancer
Studies show that including whole wheat in your diet may help in reducing the risk of skin cancer. The presence of selenium in whole wheat helps in that process. It also helps in nourishing the skin and maintaining radiance. Wheat has the benefit of eliminating colorectal cance r which is a common type of cancer.
Source: indiagateflours
Soya beans is a highly nutritious plant-based food with several health benefits:
-Rich source of protein
-Contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein.
-Helpful for vegetarians and vegans as an alternative to animal protein.
-Supports muscle growth and repair.
– Heart Health
-Helps lower cholesterol levels
-Contains healthy unsaturated fats and fibre that support cardiovascular health
-Can be part of a heart-friendly diet
-Bone health
-Provides calcium (in fortified soy products), magnesium, and protein
-Soy isoflavones may help maintain bone density, especially in postmenopausal women
– May help manage menopausal symptoms
-Contains natural compounds called isoflavones (phytoestrogens)
-Some women experience reduced hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms with soy consumption
-Supports weight management
-High protein and fibre content can increase fullness and reduce hunger
-May help with maintaining a healthy weight
-Good for blood sugar control
-Has a low glycemic index
-Protein and fibre can help stabilise blood sugar levels
Ghana has nutrition policies. Ghana has nutrition targets. Ghana has nutrition programmes spread across multiple ministries and dozens of implementing partners.
What Ghana does not have is a single, empowered body responsible for leading, coordinating, and holding all this together. That is the gap a National Nutrition Council would fill, and stakeholders are calling for one now.
The case for a council
At a stakeholder engagement convened under the Nourish Ghana project in 2025, participants proposed the establishment of a National Nutrition Council to provide effective leadership and a governance framework for addressing malnutrition in Ghana. The meeting, which brought together policymakers, development partners, civil society organisations, and the media, highlighted a fundamental problem: nutrition responsibilities are fragmented across various ministries. Without a dedicated coordination body, efforts are duplicated, accountability is diffuse, and nutrition consistently loses out when budgets are tight.
The proposal echoes a model used in several countries that have made the fastest progress against malnutrition. Nigeria’s National Council on Nutrition, for example, recently pledged $107 million at the 2025 N4G Summit, a level of coordinated ambition that Ghana has struggled to match.
Ghana does have existing coordination structures worth acknowledging. The Scaling Up Nutrition Cross-Sectoral Planning Group (CSPG), established in 2012, was set up to harmonise planning, implementation, and monitoring of nutrition actions across sectors. It has produced real gains. But the challenge has been institutionalising those gains beyond project cycles, and analysts have called for an elevated national coordination body with presidential oversight to ensure genuine cross-sector accountability. A National Nutrition Council would go further, providing the dedicated financing and convening authority that the CSPG, as currently structured, does not have.
What a Council would do
A National Nutrition Council would provide political oversight and coordination across all sectors involved in nutrition, health, agriculture, education, social protection, and finance. It would track Ghana’s nutrition commitments, hold ministries accountable for delivery, and ensure that nutrition budgets are protected and spent effectively. Most importantly, it would give nutrition a permanent seat at the table where national development decisions are made.
The Time Is Now
Ghana made 10 commitments at the 2025 N4G Paris Summit. Translating those commitments into results requires a governance structure that does not currently exist. Establishing a National Nutrition Council is not a bureaucratic exercise. It is the institutional foundation without which Ghana’s nutrition ambitions will remain promises on paper. Leaders must act on this proposal without delay.
Feature article by Women, Media and Change under its Nourish Ghana: Advocating for Increased Leadership to Combat Malnutrition project
