Facts About Whole Grain Foods

First off, to know why whole grains are good for us we must first know what whole grains are. Whole grains are the entire grain seeds of wheat, rice, barley, corn or oats that have all the parts of the grain including the bran, endosperm, and germ. If a food is not whole grain than the bran and germ have been removed leaving only the endosperm.

Now that we have an idea of what whole grains are, here are some benefits of choosing to incorporate them into our diets. Whole grains are packed with protien, fiber, B vitamins, and trace minerals (iron, zinc, copper, and magnesium). Eating whole grains has shown to reduce the risk of heart dieases, type 2 diabetes, obesity and some cancers. The health benefits of whole grains come from all the components (bran, endosperm, and germ) working together in their natural proportions.

However, don't be fooled that all brown colored foods are whole grain! To be sure that you are eating whole grains check the ingredients list. The word "whole" preceeding the grain that you're choosing should be first to indicate that the food you are selecting has more whole grain in it than any other ingredient.

http://wholegrainnation.eatbetteramerica.com/facts/