One Big Health Nut

The food pyramid directs you to eat 9-11 servings of grains per day.  If you are concerned about weight and health, your first thought might concern possible weight gain.  Diets warn you to avoid carbohydrates to avoid weight gain.  But the impact of carbohydrates on your weight depends on the grains/carbohydrates you are consuming.  White grains (carbohydrates) are processed, which results in vital nutrients being stripped from the food.  The whiter the food product, the more it has been processed.    

Whole grain products are processed less.  This allows the grain product to maintain more of the nutrients present in the grain.  Whole grain products are also higher in fiber.  High fiber diets can lower cholesterol, prevent certain cancers, and prevent the digestive condition known as diverticulosis.  Whole grain products are much lower in fat and are filling.  If you have a diet rich in whole grains you will not add fat to your diet.  And you may even eat less through out the day. 

Try to choose grain products that specifically say “whole” in the ingredients.  “Multi” grain products do not necessarily contain whole grains.  As a general rule, the whole grain products are brown.  The darker the grain, the less processed it will be and the more natural nutrients and fiber the food will contain.  Substitute brown rice for white.  Eat whole grain pasta instead of the more fattening white counterpart.  The taste is only slightly different.  And select whole grain cereals and bread.