Why Are Whole Grain Foods So Important?

By Scott Davis

Some studies have revealed that people who ate an adequate supply of whole grain in their diet had a lower risk of diabetes. Other components of whole grain food, found for example in whole wheat bread, can help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer; the components are a regular "jaw breaker" of Greek and Latin roots 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 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). I know all this scientific jargon may be confusing, but the bottom line is clear: WE ALL SHOULD make whole grain foods an important part of your daily diet.

What We Require

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.

Whole Wheat and Whole Grains

Some people wonder about the definition of whole grain vs. whole wheat. Whole wheat is whole grain. To be termed a whole grain it has to have all the essential nutrients of the grain still in tact. These parts include 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 that they will carry on as adults, thus limiting the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Putting it Together

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. - 17268

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