Reduce Weight – FAST!

 

Whole Grain

There’s a new watchword in town and it is Whole Grain. Seriously, how many times do we see the word “Whole Grain” prominently advertised on food products, magazines and TV shows. But do you really know what is a Whole Grain? No? 

 

There are 2 types of grains -

1. Whole grains 
2. Refined grains

 

Whole Grains

The definition of whole grain from the Whole Grains Council -

Whole grains or foods made from them contain all the essential parts and naturally-occurring nutrients of the entire grain seed. If the grain has been processed (e.g., cracked, crushed, rolled, extruded, and/or cooked), the food product should deliver approximately the same rich balance of nutrients that are found in the original grain seed.

The above definition of the whole grain is pretty self-explanatory. A whole grain contains all the naturally occuring nutrients in its entirity. As you can clearly see in the above diagram a whole grain consists of 3 main parts viz. the bran, germ and endosperm.  The prominent examples of whole grains are :

• whole-wheat 
• oatmeal
• whole cornmeal
• brown rice

While Refined grains are polished to increase their shelf life and texture, the whole grains provide more nutrients like fiber, iron and also several vitamins.

 

Benefits of Whole Grains

Fibers : Whole grains contain many valuable nutrients that the body needs. One of the most apparent benefit is fiber. Fibers help in the easy movement of the bowels which helps in keeping your stomach clean. And when you have a clean stomach most of the diseases are eliminated. 

Antioxidants : Whole grain foods also contain antioxidants that help in restoring energy and also ward off skin aging and wrinkles.

Vitamins : Vitamin E and Vitamin B are also found in these whole grains.  Magnesium and Iron are also present in these foods.

The USDA suggests that we have atleast 3 servings of whole grain everyday!

 

Whole Grain Recipes 

By consuming whole grain foods you’ll take one step forward in enriching your diet. Whole foods are not only easy to digest but at the same time contain a lot of natural nutrients not found in refined grains. 

The whole grain foods don’t have to taste bad. In fact, many people are now realizing the benefits of whole grains. If you don’t know how to make delicious food from whole grains don’t worry! There are several books dedicated to whole grain recipes.