Whole Grain Deliciousness!

What are the nutritional and health benefits of using whole grains instead of refined grains?

Holism. The philosophy that the way a system behaves can not be explained or determined by how any of its given parts behave.
Aristotle stated in Metaphysics, "The whole is more than the sum of its parts."

This is a easy thing to throw around when you want to explain to someone why using a whole grain as food or a whole plant as medicine is better than using some part of one. All the parts of a plant work together toward the same goal. Each part of a plant has it's own role, on which other parts are dependent for proper functioning and future survival of that individual. Maybe I'm getting too theoretical here.

Whole grains have not gone through any (major) processing and retain the nutritional benefits of that plant as a whole. Removing the various parts of a grain leaves it deficient, and in a state that it would not survive. The same with the people who eat it. If I consume deficient foods, I will in turn become deficient, and like a polished grain of rice, I would not grow and survive. I might just have a shelf life.

The example about beriberi is very interesting, and you would think this information would encourage people all over the world to discontinue their consumption of refined products, especially wheat and rice, which are the two most popular grains of which I'm aware. I grew up eating white rice, and surely enjoy it's flavor and texture, but I have yet to convince my family that it's just like eating a bunch of empty calories.

The author often mentions the issue of world hunger in the chapters, and it seems like one of the best things that can be done toward ending world hunger is to educate people about whole foods and methods of growing whole foods.

Whole grains are a good source of complex carbohydrates, which keep blood sugar at stable levels. They also contain dietary fiber, also good for regulating blood sugar, but also necessary for maintaining a healthy digestive system. Minerals, B vitamins, and protein are all available from whole, unrefined grains.