Grain products, including whole grains are best known for providing valuable fiber in the diet. Less known but just as important, grains can also provide protective antioxidants. Whole grains have been shown to help in weight loss and decrease risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Grains should make up the base of your diet, aim for six or more servings per day.
Grain products, such as bread, rice, pasta, oatmeal, cereal, and tortillas, are generally low in fat. They provide fiber, vitamins, minerals, and some phytochemicals. Most of the foods we eat are refined grains, for example white bread, white rice, pasta, pretzels, and many others. Refined grains do not contain as many nutrients as whole grains.
A whole grain is the entire edible portion of a grain. A whole grain includes three parts, each with a valuable store of nutrients:
White flour is made by refining whole grains. During the refining process, most or all of the bran and germ are removed. White flour that has been enriched has certain nutrients added to it: iron and some B vitamins (including folate). However, many other nutrients are lost, these include:
Whole grains are a healthier choice because the ingredients they contain can help lower the risk for heart disease and diabetes. Soluble fiber (found in oats and barley) can lower cholesterol levels, reduce body weight and prevent type 2 diabetes. Antioxidants, such as vitamin E, are believed to help prevent atherosclerosis and lower the risk for coronary artery disease.
It's easy to eat six grain servings per day. One serving is equal to:
The trickiest part about eating whole grains is figuring out which grains truly are whole. To do this, check the ingredient label. The product is a whole grain if the first ingredient is whole wheat or oatmeal. Don't be fooled by brown breads, some are dyed to be that color. Also, a food label that reads wheat bagel , stoned wheat , or seven grain is not necessarily whole grain.
The following are whole grains:
Be aware. Many of these cereals contain large amounts of sugar, honey, or fructose corn syrup. These types of sugars add calories without any food value or health benefit. Whenever possible choose cereal products without added sugars.
RESOURCES:
American Dietetic Association
http://www.eatright.org/
Food and Nutrition
United States Department of Agriculture
http://www.usda.gov/FoodAndNutrition/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Dietitians of Canada
http://www.dietitians.ca/
Canadian Council on Food and Nutrition
http://www.ccfn.ca/
References:
Flight I, Clifton P: Cereal grains and legumes in the prevention of coronary heart disease and stroke: a review of the literature. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006;60:1145-59.
Jensen MK, Koh-Banerjee P, Franz M et al: Whole grains, bran, and germ in relation to homocysteine and markers of glycemic control, lipids, and inflammation. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006;83:275-83.
Kaline K, Bornstein SR, Bergmann A et al: The importance and effect of dietary fiber in diabetes prevention with particular consideration of whole grain products. Horm Metab Res. 2007;39:687-93.
Last reviewed January 2009 by David Juan, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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