A large study, surveying the dietary habits of Americans discovered that only 5% of Americans are eating the recommended amounts of whole grains each day. You may be wondering, how much whole grain is recommend and why are they so important?
Whole grains include wheat, rye, corn, oats and barley, when eaten in the “whole” form. Whole grains are important for many reasons. One of the reasons whole grains are great for you is because of the antioxidant and phytochemical activity reported with the intake of whole grains. We have all heard about how great fruits and vegetables are for because of the protective antioxidants. Now you can add whole grains to that list of good for you foods. Research has shown that people who eat whole grains regularly have a lower risk of obesity, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. In addition to all these things, whole grain foods are great sources of fiber.
In general it’s recommended that adults get 3 to 5 servings of whole grains a day. Children need at least 2 to 3 servings daily. What is a serving? A slice of whole grain bread, one cup of whole grain of cereal, or half of a cup of whole grain rice, pasta or hot cereal. Now you know the whole truth about whole grains.
Erika Watson-Lawson is a registered dietitian with Memorial Hospital.