We Grow Our Own Onyx

We grow Onyx in West Texas, where the bright, sunny days darken and ripen the sorghum berries.  And fortunately, Onyx uses about ½ the water of other grains, so it’s good for the environment and flourishes in the hot, dry climate. Why do we grow our own Onyx? Some things you just have to do yourself if you want to make sure it’s done right. When Onyx is harvested, it’s immediately shipped to our mill in dedicated containers to avoid cross-contamination with gluten or GMO crops or any allergens. From the fields where it grows, to the mill, the factory, and all the way to your table; we know where Onyx has been.

What is Grain Berry Onyx Sorghum?

Onyx Sorghum is an all-natural grain developed by Texas A&M University.  Based on the ancient grain black and high-tannin sorghum varieties; it blends together in one plant a more powerful combination of antioxidants that combat a whole spectrum of free radical attackers.  More comprehensive than berries, fruits and vegetables, Onyx can also help slow sugar and carbohydrate absorption in our gut with its unique composition.

What are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants are molecules that inhibit the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical process that can produce free radicals, leading to chain reactions that may cause damage to our cells.

Every day, oxidation in your body attacks billions of cells similar to how it spoils foods. Antioxidants job is to help protect our bodies from the ravages caused by oxidation, like it inhibits rancidity and spoilage in foods.

The Damaging Effects of Oxidation

Antioxidants Dynamic Duo

Two types of antioxidants are making headlines for their unique health benefits, tannins and anthocyanins. Onyx sorghum has both types, a very rare combination that research is showing has exciting possibilities!

Let’s Talk Tannin Antioxidants. The dark coloring in many fruits, vegetables and other plants; such as pomegranates, red wine, blueberries, dark chocolate, etc., are due to tannin antioxidants. Recently, these tannin rich foods have been much in the news for their many health benefits. Onyx and Hi-Tannin Bran sorghum are some of the very best sources of tannins, as measured by Oxygen Free Radical Absorbance Capacity; (ORAC) values, which measures the potential foods have to neutralize harmful free radicals. In fact, 5 of the top 20 ORAC rich foods are varieties of sorghum.

The Best Sources of Tannin

Onyx sorghum is one of the very best sources of tannins, which is why it is the key ingredient in all of our Grain Berry Cereals, baking mixes and pastas.

Sun-Activated 3-D Antioxidants

In addition to being one of the very best sources of tannin antioxidants, Onyx has a rare type of anthocyanin; 3 deoxy-anthocyanins; we call 3-D antioxidants. 3-D antioxidants neutralize many of free radicals that tannins miss. This combination of tannins and 3-D antioxidants is found nowhere else; and together they help combat all 6 of the known free radicals as shown in the Onyx Lab Results on the right.

Comprehensive Effects

Grain Berry went beyond single ORAC testing by including the full spectrum of free radicals, as illustrated in the chart. USDA ORAC Test (2004, 2007, and 2010) measured one key free radical (Peroxal); only one of the six known free radicals.

What are free-radicals?

Free radicals are created by our bodies during digestion and metabolism and from such sources as UV light radiation, engine exhaust, second hand smoke, and other forms of pollution and stress. Free radicals attack our billions of cells and over time can lead to a wide array of diseases, such as cancers, heart disease and diabetes, among others. Antioxidants job is to bind with and neutralize free radicals.

Onyx Antioxidants Fight All Free Radicals Caused by Oxidation

Free radicals are created by our bodies during digestion and metabolism and from such sources as UV light radiation, engine exhaust, second hand smoke, and other forms of pollution and stress. Free radicals attack our billions of cells and over time can lead to a wide array of diseases, such as cancers, heart disease and diabetes, among others. Antioxidants job is to bind with and neutralize free radicals.

BROWSE PRODUCTS

And Don’t Forget the Grain Berry Sugar Story!

The Good Carbs in Grain Berry Onyx Sorghum:  All Grain Berry cereals and mixes have less sugar than the leading brands, so that’s a good start.  Plus our whole grain blend with Onyx Sorghum can help slow the absorbance of sugar and carbs in the bloodstream.

Here’s how.

Carbs are categorized based on how quickly they are broken down in the body; ranging from simple carbs like sugars that are very quickly metabolized; to complex carbs, (often referred to as “good” carbs), like Resistant Starch and fiber that metabolize slowly or pass through to the colon without being digested.

Whole Grains have far more “good carbs” than processed flours, and king among whole grains is Grain Berry Onyx, a unique variety of sorghum that is our key ingredient.  Onyx has an excellent carbohydrate profile, with fewer simple carbs and more “good carbs” than other whole grains.

Most cereals are loaded with simple carbs.  Adding Onyx Sorghum creates a more balanced carb profile.

Onyx not only has the right kind of carbs, it’s also one of the very best sources of antioxidants.  The rare antioxidants in Onyx not only help neutralize the ravages of free radicals, but also bind with carbohydrates and cause them to digest more slowly.

The result: the “Good Carbs” in Onyx are metabolized much slower than other whole grains, giving you sustained energy and helping you maintain your desired weight.

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