All About Grains and Health

The definition of a grain is the seeds or fruits of various food plants including cereal grasses. Grains fall into the carbohydrate category which can be an ideal source of energy for your body, keep your digestive system fit, feed your brain and nervous system and within limits, keep your body lean.

So what kinds of grains should you are best? The answer is whole grains. Whole grains or foods made from them contain all the essential parts and naturally-occurring nutrients of the entire grain seed. If the grain has been processed (e.g., cracked, crushed, rolled, extruded, and/or cooked), the food product should deliver approximately the same rich balance of nutrients that are found in the original grain seed. There are lots of names for whole grains. A food is not made with whole grains if it is labeled with the words multigrain, 100% wheat, seven-grain, stone-ground, bran, or cracker wheat.  Whole and sprouted grains are preferred over refined grains and should be listed in one of the following forms including whole wheat, whole oats, brown rice, bulgar, graham flour, oatmeal, whole grain corn, whole rye, and wild rice.

Grains are an important component to your diet, but eating whole grains are what have the most healthful impact!