Health & nutrition
Why is whole grain so good for you?
A healthy diet is built on a foundation of grain foods, especially whole grains. Commonly eaten whole grains are wheat, rice, oats, barley and maize.
Whole grain foods are made up of all 3 parts of the grain. In contrast, refined foods such as white flour and white rice, strip out some of the 3 parts of the grain, losing many of the nutrients in the process.
Whole grain foods, like whole grain breakfast cereals, contain a rich mix of phytonutrients, protein, antioxidants, complex carbohydrate, fibre, vitamins and minerals that work together as a great package. Eating the whole package gives a combination of health benefits as part of a healthy balanced diet.
Whole grain facts:
- Consuming whole grain as part of a low fat diet can help maintain a healthy heart*.
- Whole grains contain nutrients that help maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
- Wholegrain is an important source of fibre, which aids digestion, helps maintain a healthy gut and can help maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Nutritionists recommend that we should eat at least 3 servings of whole grain each day, (equivalent to 48g/ day). But most of us aren’t eating enough and nearly a third of us don’t eat any at all!
*Look out for foods which have the approved whole grain health claim “People with healthy hearts tend to eat more whole grain foods as part of a low fat diet and healthy lifestyle”. These foods have to be 51% whole grains by weight per serving.
So all in all, including whole grain in your diet is an excellent way to look after your health. And it's easy - for example, a bowl of Shredded Wheat, Shreddies or Cheerios contains two portions of whole grain in every serving.
Visit www.wholegrain.co.uk.