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Elizabeth Somer
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VIDEO: Elizabeth Somer, R.D. - Whole Grains And Refined Grains, How Do They Differ?

Registered Dietitian Elizabeth Somer describes the differences between whole grains and refined grains.

Registered Dietitian Elizabeth Somer:
The difference between the whole grain and refined grain; whole grain is the whole, little berry. It’s got the bran on the outside, it’s got the starchy interior, and it’s got the nutrient-packed little germ on the inside. That means that the whole grain is not only loaded with the normal glucose, the carbohydrates you need for your brain and body to function, but also has the bran part, the fiber that’s so important in keeping you regular, lowering your risks for things like constipation and possibly even heart disease, and the germ just packed with phytonutrients--vitamin E, trace minerals, etcetera.

The refined grain has had the fiber-rich bran, outer coating removed; so that’s gone. Now you don’t have any fiber left, and it’s had the germ removed, which means the phytonutrients--the vitamins, the minerals, the B vitamins, the vitamin E, the zinc, the selenium etcetera--has been removed. All you have left is the starchy, what’s called endosperm. So you’ve got the calories and nothing else.

About Elizabeth Somer:
Elizabeth Somer, M.A., is a registered dietitian who has carved a unique professional niche as one of the few, if not only, dietitians who is well-versed in nutrition research. For 25 years, she has kept abreast of the current research, packaging that information into easy-to-read books, magazine articles, lectures, continuing education seminars, and practical news for the media.

Visit Elizabeth Somer at her website

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