Oat and wheat straw are cereal grains. Since they are rich sources of protein, carbohydrates and soluble fiber, humans have cultivated them for thousands of years. You're probably most familiar with these grains as staple breakfast foods, since they can be found in many dry cereals or as "instant" hot cereals. However, while both grains share many common uses, certain differences between oat and wheat straw set them a world apart.
Differences in Common Uses
Oat and wheat straw are botanically classified as grasses, since they both belong the monocot family of plants. In addition, both oat straw and wheat straw are used as bedding for livestock. However, according to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, oat straw is also used as an herbal remedy taken as an alcohol tincture or prepared as a tea. While there is a lack of sufficient scientific data to validate most of the health claims associated with supplementing with oat straw preparations, some herbalists recommend its use in treating an enlarged prostate, sexual dysfunction in both men and women and various nervous disorders. In contrast, the culinary and medicinal applications of wheat straw are largely limited to the production of baked goods, pasta, beer and other alcoholic beverages.
Nutritional Differences
There are some nutritional differences between crude oat and wheat straw. Generally speaking, the former contains more carbohydrates while the latter contains more fiber, protein and fat. In addition, wheat contains prolamines, specialized proteins collectively referred to as gluten. People with an autoimmune disorder called celiac disease cannot tolerate wheat gluten. Oat straw, on the other hand, does contain a type of prolamine called avenin, which can contribute to allergic reactions in celiac patients. However, if oat straw is grown under conditions in which it is unlikely to become cross-contaminated with other grasses, including wheat, then it may be labeled as "pure" and considered an acceptable substitute in products that normally contain wheat gluten.
Differences in Industrial Applications
There are several industrial uses of wheat straw, while there are virtually none for oat straw. For one thing, wheat straw is used as an alternative to steel and wood in the home construction industry, a practice known as straw bale construction. It is also combined with recyclable plastic to make composite fencing, planter boxes and other garden and landscaping accessories. Finally, wheat straw is used to produce biofuels, most notably ethanol.
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