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| Friday, August 21, 2009 |
| Another reason to eat your whole grains! |
If you’ve been following our blog you’ll know by now that whole grains are one of the key components of a nutritious diet (along with fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, lean meats and poultry, fish and healthy fats). Whole grain cereals, breads, pasta and crackers have always been encouraged over their “refined counterparts”, with the majority of health benefits being directly attributed to their high fiber content. However, a new study reveals that whole grain snack foods like “popcorn and many popular breakfast cereals contain surprisingly large amounts of healthful antioxidant substances called polyphenols”.
Antioxidants, found abundantly in fruits and vegetables, work in the body by protecting healthy cells. Polyphenols, a specific class of antioxidants, have anti-inflammatory properties and are the main reason health experts promote things like green tea and red wine (in moderation) to decrease risk of chronic disease. According to Joe Vinson, Ph.D, head researcher out of the University of Scranton, the study indicated that “whole grain products have comparable antioxidants per gram to fruits and vegetables”. Keep in mind however that fruits and vegetables contain a lot of water, so the nutrients in the fruits and vegetables are diluted when comparing things “gram to gram”. It would have been interesting for them to compare the antioxidant content of “usual” portion sizes; like a ½ cup of blueberries compared to ½ cup of whole grain cereal. I would put my money on the blueberries any day.
Polyphenols occur naturally in plants and are the most abundant antioxidant, so the findings of this study are not a big surprise considering whole grains are plant foods just like fruits and vegetables. But what’s interesting to note is that scientists have always believed the health benefits of whole grains come from active ingredients in the fiber, when in reality their polyphenol content may be playing a larger role then previously thought. According to Vinson, the whole grains with the highest antioxidant content were wheat, corn, oats and rice (in that order).
So what’s the take home message here? Eat your whole grains (and your fruits and vegetables)…like we’ve been saying all along! But if you don’t think you’re getting enough fruits and veggies in your diet or you have a picky eater at home, whole grains can provide a boost in disease fighting antioxidants. Also be sure to select minimally processed whole grain products that don’t have a lot of artificial ingredients or trans fats. Lower your risk of heart disease and cancer by going for grains…whole grains that is!
- Lauren
Note: Study findings to be presented at the 238th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). Study has not yet been published.
Labels: Antioxidants, healthy eating, healthy tips, Lauren
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posted by My Sensei @ Friday, August 21, 2009   |
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| 2 Comments: |
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Thx for the link. I am all about whole grains & I LIKE them too! SO many great products out there that are good for you & taste good as well!
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YAY! This post made me happy because I'm a total whole-grains lover! :-)
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Thx for the link. I am all about whole grains & I LIKE them too! SO many great products out there that are good for you & taste good as well!