Benefits Of Whole Grains
Grains of thought on shedding those extra pounds and how the proper selection of grains can help in a weight loss then a weight control program.
The human body evolved to its current state over a period of many tens of thousands of years and for over 99.99% of that time, it did so naturally. In the past 100 years or so, we've changed all that progress!
Our modern science has progressed at blinding speed, but the biological nature of the human body remains physically rooted in traits developed long ago.
Attaining optimum health today still requires the proven natural approach and whole grains pack a lot of punch for their size!
Adding unrefined whole grains to your regular everyday diet will deliver benefits
- Chronic disease prevention
- Antioxidants
- Hormonal balance
- Weight-control
- Metabolism of carbohydrates
Whole grains behind the scenes
The Department of Food Study and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota recommends the consumption of whole grains to prevent chronic diseases.
Epidemiologic studies support the theory that whole grains are protective against cancer, cardiovascular disease and are rich in compounds that function as antioxidants and trace minerals.
One important mechanism whereby whole grains may protect against disease include the modulation of the glycemic response.
This is directly related to the body's weight-control functions e.g. appetite, hunger, metabolic rate, metabolism of fats and sugars, calorie-burning, and so on.
Clearly, the range of protective substances in whole grains is quite impressive and advice to consume additional whole grains is justified.
A study by the Harvard Medical School concluded that weight gain was inversely associated with the intake of high-fibre whole grain foods, but positively related to the intake of refined-grain foods, which indicated the importance of distinguishing whole-grain products from refined-grain products to aid in weight control.
Why people should eat whole grains e.g. the benefits of whole grains
Whole grains have beneficial effects on weight control through satiety promotion. The intake of whole grains also slow starch digestion and absorption, which leads to relatively lower insulin and glucose responses.
However, most grain products are highly refined and have a higher starch content and a lower fibre content than do unrefined whole grains.
Reading the labels is very important as is the quality of the whole grains.
Tips for choosing healthy whole grain foods for your cereals, pasta and breads:
- Select better quality organic whole grains
- Use whole grains including millet, amaranth, quinoa, brown rice, kamut, spelt
- Whole wheat is not recommended as it is a hybridized grain e.g. very high gluten
- Look for products that are unrefined and unbleached
- Read the labels and avoid sugar, sugar derivatives and artificial sweeteners
- Eat the number of servings/day depending on your metabolism, gastro-intestinal tract, your general state of health and health goals
Most people barely get 25% of the 33 grams needed per day so supplementing your diet with a high quality fibre is essential to achieve optimum health and weight-loss.
Did you know that a high quality fibre will swell 5 to 13 times in water and act as a broom in the gastro-intestinal tract?
Consequently, many people need an additional formula when adding fibre as the colon often needs a bit of help until it gets cleaner and stronger.
Cleansing the colon (and body) seasonally is recommended, read more ...
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Diane McLaren
CCIr, ROHP, RNCP
As one of Canada's top
Holistic Natural Health Practitioners (a
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