Health studies have shown that people who eat a diet rich in whole grains have a lower risk of diabetes and that whole grain foods can help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Reading the names of the healthy parts of the whole grains is about as fun as reading the dictionary. Terms such as antioxidants (useful chemicals against aging), lignans (a chemical found in the cell walls of plants that has been associated with reduced risks of breast cancer), phenolic acids (plant metabolites which have been found to be natural and powerful antioxidants), phytoestrogens (found to be helpful in reducing risks of cancer, osteoporosis and cardiovascular problems) are all found in whole grains. All the scientific jargon may be confusing, but the bottom line is clear: whole grains should be a key part of our daily diet.
What Our Body Needs
We all know that natural means better; and you can find a lot of brands at the supermarket that claim to be natural, but those claims are not always accurate. Many food manufacturers add all kinds of chemicals to extend the shelf life of their product. These tend to destroy the healthy properties of whole grain food. This is sad, since wheat is perhaps the most important component of our daily diet. Even worse, we tend to refine it to the point where all its nutritious properties get completely removed. But it is important to get whole wheat into your diet. Because whole wheat bread takes longer to digest due to the fiber, we feel fuller faster and we eat fewer calories. Our sugar levels do not spike because carbs get digested slower.
Cheating A Little
Some people wonder about the definition of whole grain vs. whole wheat: Whole wheat is whole grain because it has the essential components which are the bran, the endosperm and the germ.
Many people tend to not like whole wheat products. Like bread for example. They think it's to course and heavy. If you make your own bread, we suggest you buy white whole wheat flour. It is made from a different type of wheat, but with all the ingredients of whole grain. You could also mix a low percentage of white refined flour (20%) with the regular whole wheat flour and still get some healthy bread that's light and fluffy.
Whatever your choice, you can still bake all kinds of delicious products with whole wheat flour, from muffins to cookies to whole wheat tortillas. Giving the kids their daily ration of fiber through whole wheat will not only ensure an optimal digestion but also teaches them healthy eating habits that they will carry on as adults.
Together They Rock
Don't forget to combine whole wheat products with the other healthy foods. While whole grains are important, they alone doesn't make a well rounded diet. Low fat milk products, lean cut meats, beans, vegetables and fruits all contribute to form a healthy, nutritious diet.
What Our Body Needs
We all know that natural means better; and you can find a lot of brands at the supermarket that claim to be natural, but those claims are not always accurate. Many food manufacturers add all kinds of chemicals to extend the shelf life of their product. These tend to destroy the healthy properties of whole grain food. This is sad, since wheat is perhaps the most important component of our daily diet. Even worse, we tend to refine it to the point where all its nutritious properties get completely removed. But it is important to get whole wheat into your diet. Because whole wheat bread takes longer to digest due to the fiber, we feel fuller faster and we eat fewer calories. Our sugar levels do not spike because carbs get digested slower.
Cheating A Little
Some people wonder about the definition of whole grain vs. whole wheat: Whole wheat is whole grain because it has the essential components which are the bran, the endosperm and the germ.
Many people tend to not like whole wheat products. Like bread for example. They think it's to course and heavy. If you make your own bread, we suggest you buy white whole wheat flour. It is made from a different type of wheat, but with all the ingredients of whole grain. You could also mix a low percentage of white refined flour (20%) with the regular whole wheat flour and still get some healthy bread that's light and fluffy.
Whatever your choice, you can still bake all kinds of delicious products with whole wheat flour, from muffins to cookies to whole wheat tortillas. Giving the kids their daily ration of fiber through whole wheat will not only ensure an optimal digestion but also teaches them healthy eating habits that they will carry on as adults.
Together They Rock
Don't forget to combine whole wheat products with the other healthy foods. While whole grains are important, they alone doesn't make a well rounded diet. Low fat milk products, lean cut meats, beans, vegetables and fruits all contribute to form a healthy, nutritious diet.
About the Author:
With healthy whole wheat mixes good food can be easy and quick to prepare. Try a whole wheat pancake mix or whole wheat muffin mix for breakfast.
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