Fat Loss 4 Idiots Opinion

Friday, February 6, 2009

The Benefits of Eating Whole Wheat

By Scott Davis

Ever wonder what the big deal is about whole grains?

People have slowly started realizing how important whole wheat is to a healthy diet. Whole wheat is a key source of vitamins and nutrients. Whole wheat is also a strong source of antioxidants, something not found in processed foods.

Eating whole grains helps to maintain a stable blood sugar level. Which makes whole wheat very important to diabetics. Whole grains have also been found to reduce the risks of cancer. To be considered a whole grain, it must have three key parts, the germ, the bran and the endosperm. Each of these parts of the wheat kernel contains different vitamins and must all be kept together to get the full benefit of the whole wheat.

Wheat is one of the earliest food staples. Humans have been growing and harvesting wheat for thousands of years. It was cultivated anciently in Mesopotamia where it spread to other parts of Asia and Europe. In China wheat was even revered as a sacred food. Wheat didn't arrived in the Americas until early explorers brought it over from Europe.

One healthy cereal mix, Bulgur wheat, is made from several wheat plans and can commonly be found in health food stores. It is commonly used in the Middle East and the surrounding region and is great for baking, using in soups and salads. The biggest benefit of Bulgur wheat is its low glycemic index. It has an index number of 46, ideal for diabetics who need to keep their glycemic index stable. In comparison, white bread made from processed wheat has a glycemic index of 100, which is above the recommended limit.

Since people are much more aware of the importance of whole grains now days it has become a lot easier to find whole grain versions of your favorite foods. You can now get whole grain pastas and whole grain baking mixes at the local supermarket. It is also a lot more convenient to make whole wheat food. You can buy whole grain cooking mixes for things like whole wheat pancakes and whole wheat muffins so you can whip up a healthy meal quickly and easily.

Now of course healthy people, those that dont need to watch their glucose levels, will find that whole wheat is extremely nutritional. I have already mentioned that it is an important source of vitamins B and E, together with antioxidants (against aging), and minerals such as magnesium, manganese, phosphorous and selenium. The elevated fiber content helps enormously with your digestion as it cleans the bowels. The high amount of fiber reduces the feeling of being hungry and has been shown to reduce the risks of cancer and obesity.

Don't let it be a doctors trip that convinces you to add more whole grains to your diet, do it now so you can reap the benefits of a healthy life. - 17269

About the Author:

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home