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Home Health Nutrition The Health Benefits of Eating Whole Grain Foods
The Health Benefits of Eating Whole Grain Foods PDF Print E-mail
Written by Scott Davis   
Health studies have proven that people who have a diet rich in whole grains have a lower risk of diabetes, a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. The naturally healthy parts of whole wheat are a lot of terms we don't hear every day: 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 among others), 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). The scientific jargon may be confusing and slightly overwhelming, but the bottom line is clear: we need more whole grains in our diet.
by ScottDavis


Health studies have proven that people who have a diet rich in whole grains have a lower risk of diabetes, a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. The naturally healthy parts of whole wheat are a lot of terms we don't hear every day: 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 among others), 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). The scientific jargon may be confusing and slightly overwhelming, but the bottom line is clear: we need more whole grains in our diet.

What Our Body Needs

In our modern and sophisticated society we believe that natural means better. Many brands at the market claim to be natural, knowing the appeal the word has for most people. The trueth is that they add all kinds of chemicals to their products. These chemical can harm our body and destroy all the healthy properties of whole grain food. Wheat is perhaps the most important component of our daily diet. Yet most products refine it to the point that all its nutritious properties have been destroyed. This is unfortunate, because what our body really needs is whole wheat that's natural. For example, whole wheat bread takes longer to digest (due to the fiber), so we feel fuller more quickly, thus eating less calories. Our sugar levels do not spike because the carbs are digested very slowly.

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.

If you were to bake bread with whole wheat flour you might find the results a bit course and heavy. Many people don't like whole wheat bread for those reasons. We suggest you buy white whole wheat flour. It's made from a different type of wheat, but with all the ingredients of whole grain. This makes for lighter and fluffier wheat bread. You could also mix in a little white refined flour (about 1/5th) with the regular whole wheat flour to make it lighter and still get some healthy bread.

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.

Putting it Together

Don't forget to combine whole wheat products with the other healthy nutrients. Wheat alone doesn't make for the perfect diet. Low fat milk products, lean cut meats, beans, vegetables and fruits all contribute to a well rounded, healthy diet.

About the Author:

Add more wheat to your diet with a delicious organic pancake mix and organic wheat berries.

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