Whole Grains Are Whole???

Chances are that just like me, you know whole grains are better for you. Maybe because of the million times we’ve heard “eat brown rice, wheat bread and wheat pasta instead of white anything because it’s better for you”. But why? What makes them so special? Believe it or not I asked and the response I got was that they are better because the grains are whole (No Lie! I was insulted by the sarcasm. lol)

Grains are foods like corn, rice, oats, barley, quinoa, sorghum, spelt and rye. Honestly, I had no clue what some of those grains were but I know some of you are real fancy… so those are for you. And if you are like me, feel free to Google them 🙂

Turns out whole grains really are grains that are whole! This just means they are natural grains as opposed to processed grains. I learned that processed grains are bleached, ground, sifted or mixed and they are not as good for me because they lose their nutrients during these processes.

So natural/whole grains are carbs which give energy to the body but also provide minerals, antioxidants and vitamins. I was surprised to find that their nutritional contents are just as high or even better than fruits and vegetables! And there is a lot of scientific research that shows that whole grains reduce risks of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and obesity. Sounds to me like they are worth fitting in!

You already know that brown rice is a stretch for me but understanding the importance of whole grains helps me realize that I can tolerate brown pasta and consider wheat bread. As usual don’t try to change everything. Just make slow changes and grow. Lifestyle not crash diet! Let’s do this!