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More Healthy Eating
More Healthy Eating Guidelines: Whole Grains
More healthy eating should involve taking a serious look at the benefits of eating whole grains. Eating the whole grains is actually very beneficial to your health.
One of the more recent low-carb diet phenomena basically disallows or severely limits the eating of whole grains, allowing people to take their carbs from other sources, like vegetables. While having vegetables should always be encouraged because they are so healthy, it's also important to see the value of having whole grains. We prefer to use whole grains as we strive for more healthy eating as a way of life.
Whole grains are beneficial because they contain anti-oxidants. minerals, vitamins and fiber (said to be important in protecting against cancer, keeping your colon healthy, preventing heart disease). Because eating these grains results in slower digestion into the blood stream, it has the double benefit of working to prevent diabetes, while processed grains seem to contribute to it because they are absorbed into the blood stream quickly and quickly become converted to sugar. By adding whole grains to your diet, you'll be adding more healthy eating habits into your routine.
Another added benefit of eating whole grains is that they fill you up more. You can eat smaller portions and be satisfied. When we were having white bread, we were constantly craving more and feeling hungry soon after finishing a couple of slices of bread. With whole grains, that knawing hunger just isn't there for several hours after we've finished eating. And the other advantage is that whole grains, when prepared well (easier than you'd think, really), are so tasty and delicious, you'll wonder why everyone doesn't eat them instead.
We think people aren't practicing more healthy eating because of lack of knowledge and accessibility. Not every supermarket sells whole grains, so if you're lucky enough to be near a place like "Whole Foods," or a good health store, or even if your local superstore carries a small selection, that makes it much easier. If not, it's well worth making a trip to a bigger city centre to get some of these grains, or to order on-line from one of these stores. The cost may be a little more, but you'll have less since it fills you up more, and the difference in price is really not that much of a gap.
What are whole grains? First, what they're not. They are not white. The white in grains (like in white bread) comes from over-processing wheat and by adding bleach. Yes, that's right. Bleach. If you really love white bread, then we suggest that you try the organic kind because then you won't likely find your food bleached. Also, if you're baking and you love white flour, then you can purchase white, unbleached flour. The color is more wheat than white, but the taste is much, much better and it's better for you.
Whole grains are also not whole wheat. Whole wheat is better than white products, but not as good as whole grain.
One thing is important to remember. The product should say 100% Whole Grain. If it doesn't, depending on where you live and health and food there, a company can include 10% of whole grain products and the products be sold as being whole grain. This isn't beneficial to you at all. You want the whole grain because with it, you're getting all three: the bran, the germ and the endosperm. Processed grains don't contain all three and it's the three that you need to maintain a more healthy diet.
Whole Grains: Great For You and Great Tasting
Quinoa: This high in protein grain is sweet and nutty in flavour and resembles rice when cooked. It cooks quickly and easily. We like to add a vegetable bruillon to the water and sometimes toss in other things like nuts and raisins as with rice, but it's delicious even if you don't. Serve with vegetables. No need for meat because it's so high in protein.
Wild Rice: Richer in texture and in taste than processed rice. Absolutely delicious.
Barley: Go for the whole barley. It's much like brown rice and as chewy. Does take some time to cook but is well worth it.
Oats: Steel Cut Oats are especially good as a cereal, but they can also be used as you would rice. You can give this to your kids because it will give them the energy they need to start a productive day of learning and food like this is an important part of diets for kids. Make sure that you use whole oats, otherwise, you might just be getting starch, which defeats the purpose of enjoying whole grain.
Corn: Great in folate (reduces the risk of birth defects, so recommended for women of child-bearing age,) and also believed to be benefical for the heart, and vitamin C.
Check back with us soon for receipe ideas that are tasty and compliment our weight loss tips. In the meantime, to add to your self improvement journey and learn how to incorporate more healthy eating strategies into your diet, see more healthy eating suggestions.
As a bonus, have some wheat germ at home. You can add some to cereals, soups and other foods. It doesn't have much taste, neither good nor bad, so it blends into whatever you're eating easily. Make certain that you store the wheat germ in the fridge, paying attention to the expiry date. And don't buy wheat germ that's been sitting on the self of a grocery store. Make certain that you're getting it from the fridge of the grocery store.
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