Benefits of Whole Grain Whole Wheat
By My Organized Chaos
It seems each week new suggestions come out about which foods to eat and which to avoid. At some point most foods have undergone an attack for being ‘bad’. Whether it be by word of mouth, in magazines or online, the message of avoidance in health and nutrition does more to confuse than to educate.
One common food which is often under the spotlight is ‘carbohydrates’, and most hear this word and assume anything bread-like falls under this umbrella. Some jump on the wagon with this, and ward off anything with a carb-count. Fact is, most foods out there have carbohydrates in them, yet the amount greatly varies.
The important take-away is to know which ones are most beneficial. Just like saving money, it’s all about ‘getting the bang for the buck’!
Instead of hearing carbs {or simply: ‘bread’} and running for the hills, instead dive into the details and find out which ones to love. All grains start as whole grains, it’s when those grains are refined, is when they miss many of the nutrients and include only the starchy part.
So it’s really the byproducts of grains and wheat that get the bad rap – so it’s time to get back to basics. After all, there is a significant difference between sweets, sugared drinks and processed/enriched carbs and whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Yes all have carbs, but one set of examples are healthier to have on your plate.
Wheat is a versatile food and comes in many different forms. Being an Albertan, I’m literally surrounded by the stuff. In fact, Alberta has 50.3 million acres of productive farm land, and wheat has been fueling our lives for centuries. It’s been a staple in our diet right from the start, so it’s worth inspecting the root so to speak.
Benefits of Whole Grain Whole Wheat
Not only a versatile staple, this simple ingredient is also cost effective as well. For families, this is an important benefit!
Wheat is a great source of fibre. Yes, it will normalize bowel movements and help overall gut health – but fibre also lowers cholesterol levels, helps to control blood sugar levels and aids in achieving healthy weight. In other words, wheat and grains can help you live longer, lose weight and lower your risk for type 2 diabetes.
It contains a vast lineup of essential vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, zinc, iron, thiamin, folate, potassium and Vitamin B6.
They make you feel full which could help with portion control.
Bottom line, wheat is not a treat. It’s healthy, nutritious, a versatile staple and you should feel good about eating wheat.
I have three girls that love their breads and wheats, so I focus on quality and whole wheat to keep them and their bodies happy. I like to make healthy swaps and substitute refined products with whole grain.
This can be easily done with breads, pasta, flours and rice to name a few. Whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks – there’s always options for healthy swaps. In fact, I feature whole grains quite a bit here on My Organized Chaos. It’s a staple ingredient in my recipes for: Ham & Cheese Brunch Strata and Pesto Cheese Stuffed Chicken Rolls to name a couple.
