2005 Year in Review

Whole Grains are the “IN” Thing

While the past few years have been hard on carbohydrates, 2005 looks to be a good year for a certain type of carbohydrate – whole grains.

The whole grain movement, which has been gaining popularity in recent years, will be a major emphasis in our diets this year. From the cereal aisle to the bread aisle, manufacturers are reformulating many of their products to add whole grains. For example, General Mills, one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of breakfast cereal, announced that all of their cereals are going to now be made with whole grains.

A recent Tufts University study concluded that people who ate a plant-based diet rich in whole grains had, over time, less weight gain and lower body mass index.

And, people are starting to get the message that we need complex carbohydrates like whole grains in our diet to increase fiber, which helps us to feel fuller longer.

One way to introduce more whole grains into your diet is by changing the bread you buy. Switching to a whole-grain bread that contains three grams of dietary fiber per serving is an excellent way to get more whole grains. But, finding such a bread can be a real challenge. You’ll have to spend some time reading the label. And when you do, you’ll be amazed that many breads you thought were whole grain and full of fiber really aren’t.

When reading the label, look for breads that list whole wheat, whole-wheat flour or another whole grain as the first ingredient. Just because a bread, like pumpernickel, is dark, doesn’t mean it has whole grains.

In the cereal aisle, look for cereals that have five or more grams of fiber per serving. Usually these cereals will have the words “bran” or “fiber” somewhere on the front of the box. Again, read the nutrition facts panel and ingredient listing to see if whole grains have been included. If your favorite cereal isn’t whole grain, you can add a few tablespoons of unprocessed whole bran to it. That way, you are getting the best of both worlds – taste and fiber!

by  Editor, theCity1.com
February 3, 2005