Healthcare, Health Insurance, Vitamins, Nutrition

Living our modern life of convenience and processed food we seem to have forgotten what it was like to eat natural foods. Simpler, whole foods seem to be such a thing of the past. Especially since anything that takes longer that 5 minutes to cook seems to be an outrageously long prep time.

The big health push for whole grains has reminded us of the importance of whole foods. We are relearning the nutritional benefits of unrefined and uncooked foods. Specifically the benefits of whole wheat kernels, also called wheat berries.

Back To Healthy Old Ways

Whole wheat berries come in several varieties. Both hard and soft wheat berries can be used for baking and in every day foods. These wheat berries are filled with fiber, iron and vitamins B and C. They can be cooked and eaten whole, which is great for breakfasts or salads. Wheat berries can also be milled into healthy whole wheat flour. Then you can use that flour to make cakes, pastas, cookies or whatever.

Just be Creative

There are a lot of different things you can do with whole wheat. Since we don’t cook as much whole wheat directly now days, you will want to find some “old” recipes. It just takes some trial and experimentation. It may be a little different at first, especially with family members who are used to enriched white flour foods, but with time they can adjust to the changes in diet.

Wheat Berries All Day Long

Immediately switching to whole wheat and grains may seem like quite a shock to people who are used to processed foods. But it doesn’t have to be like that. This isn’t an all or nothing thing. By slowly adding whole wheat and whole grains to your diet you can make it a smooth transition. Start using whole grains by swapping standard items for their whole grains alternatives. Doing it like that will make the process go so much smoother.

Reviewing the Food Pyramid

According to the Food Pyramid you should have 6 to 11 servings of whole wheat every day. While that may seem like a lot, you should realize that 1 slice of bread or a half cup of grain or pasta each count as a single serving. So adding more whole grains in to your meals really isn’t that hard.

There seems to be a big fuss now days about eating whole grains, but do you know why it’s important?

Many people don’t realize how nutritious whole wheat products can be for their body. Whole wheat is an amazing source of vitamins as well as magnesium, fiber, iron and antioxidants.

Whole grains are key for a healthy diet. Whole grains help maintain a stable blood sugar level, which is critically important to diabetics. Additionally, unprocessed wheat contains all the parts of the wheat. During processing important nutritious parts of the wheat kernel are removed, rendering the processed wheat virtually nutritionally inert. An unprocessed whole grain still contains its entire set of vitamins and minerals.

Wheat is one of the earliest food staples. Humans have been growing and harvesting wheat for thousands of years. It was cultivated anciently in Mesopotamia where it spread to other parts of Asia and Europe. In China wheat was even revered as a sacred food. Wheat didn’t arrived in the Americas until early explorers brought it over from Europe.

For diabetics, processed foods aren’t always the healthiest. White bread made with processed white flour has a high glycemic index value, commonly around 100. With whole wheat you can get a lower glycemic index value. Something closer to 50.

Since people are much more aware of the importance of whole grains now days it has become a lot easier to find whole grain versions of your favorite foods. You can now get whole grain pastas and whole grain baking mixes at the local supermarket. It is also a lot more convenient to make whole wheat food. You can buy whole grain cooking mixes for things like whole wheat pancakes and whole wheat muffins so you can whip up a healthy meal quickly and easily.

Obviously diabetics aren’t the only ones that benefit from an improved diet. Eating more whole grains will help a healthy persons body remain strong. Getting the numerous vitamins and minerals from whole grains will help protect against sickness and cancer. I don’t want to tout whole grains like they are some wonder drug, but diets rich in whole grains puts a lot more fiber into your system. Which helps you feel fuller, cleans the bowels and reduces the risk of obesity.

A diet rich with whole grains will help maintain a healthy body, so start eating more whole grains today.