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Re-activateDon't get faked out by healthy-sounding grain claims! Supermarket shelves are loaded with breads, crackers, and cereals labeled "bran," "multigrain," "7-grain," "stone-ground," and "wheat flour." But none is necessarily whole grain. A true whole-grain food should list one of the following as its first ingredient: barley, brown rice, bulgur, graham flour, kamut, oatmeal, whole-grain corn, whole or rolled oats, whole rye, whole wheat, or wild rice.
So why should you care? Unlike white rice and flour, which are stripped of many nutrients because of the way they're processed, whole-grain foods are loaded with good stuff. They contain cancer-fighting antioxidants, heart-healthy fiber, and a variety of essential vitamins and minerals, including magnesium and B vitamins.
Studies show that whole grains also help regulate blood sugar. The government recommends that adults eat about 6 ounces of grains per day, half of which should be whole grains (1 ounce equals about a slice of bread or a half-cup of rice or pasta). For more info, visit the USDA's grain pyramid.
This article first appeared in the August/September 2008 issue of ShopSmart.
Read more on the health benefits of whole grains (free), and learn how whole grains can help keep diabetes under control (subscribers only).
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