Are you afraid to eat a delicious toasted sandwich out of fear the carbs will make you fat? There is so much unwarranted hate for carbohydrates it is easy to get caught up in the hype. The bottom line is not all carbohydrates are created equally and carbohydrates from whole foods like whole grains help to keep you healthy. Here are the reasons you should love whole gains and how it can not only keep you healthy but also help you to maintain a healthy body weight too!
Whole grains have many positives for your body including their high fibre content. Fibre helps you, stay 'regular' and cleans out the colon. Fibre also helps your waistline by keeping you fuller for longer so you don't feel like eating as much as often.
On top of this whole grains also contain important B vitamins including thiamine, niacin, riboflavin and folate. As well as minerals like iron, selenium and magnesium. All these play different important roles in keep your body functioning optimally.
A diet which includes whole grains has been associated with a decreased risk of:
- Coronary heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure.
- Some cancers including colorectal cancer.
There is even more good news for the mighty whole grain! Whole grains are associated with less tooth decay aka less trips to the dentist. They also help feed the good bacteria in your guts which promote a healthy metabolism, immune system and mental health.
So now you understand how great a carbohydrate can be here are some ways you can include more whole grains in the diet?
- Swapping white bread for whole grain bread.
- Swapping white rice for brown rice.
- Try whole grain crackers instead of Jatz.
- Some great breakfast cereals to try are oats or Weet-Bix.
- Snack on some lightly salted popcorn, 30g is a serve of whole grain.
- Give quinoa or whole grain couscous a go as an alternative to refined rice or pasta.
Take home message: Not all carbs are equal and whole grains are your body’s friend to create the healthiest version of you. Whole grains deserve a high five for all they do for your body and its time to put to bed the fear that all carbs will make you fat.
References:
- http://www.m.webmd.com/diet/reaping-benefits-whole-grains
- http://wholegrainscouncil.org/whole-grains-101
