All you ever wanted to know about Whole Grains.

If you are a carb lover like I am, than bread and pastas are a weakness.

So what do you do because we all know "carbs are the enemy!? Quite the contrary. Carbs are good. The problem is, most americans are eating the wrong kinds of carbs. We are filling up on sugar, starches and many other empty calories. One thing I suggest is to switch to WHOLE WHEAT AND WHOLE GRAIN! You can find whole grain pasta that is amazing & delicious and you will never know the difference.

Some facts about whole grains:

A grain is considered whole when all three parts – bran, germ and endosperm – are present. Most people know that fruits and vegetables contain beneficial phytochemicals and antioxidants, but many do not realize that whole grains are often an even better source of these key nutrients. In fact, whole grains are a good source of B vitamins, Vitamin E,magnesium, iron and fiber, as well as other valuable antioxidants not found in some fruits and vegetables. Most of the antioxidants and vitaminsare found in the germ and the bran of a grain.

Common Types of Whole Grains:

• wild rice
• brown rice
• whole wheat
• oatmeal
• whole oats
• barley
• whole rye
• bulgar
• popcorn

Whole grains have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease by decreasing cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and blood coagulation. Whole grains have also been found to reduce the risks of many types of cancer. They may also help regulate blood glucose in people living with diabetes. Other studies have also shown that people who consume more whole grains consistently weigh less than those who consumed less whole grain products.

*Interesting side note...Did you know that in order for it to be considered a whole grain, it MUST read 100% whole wheat/grain? So when you are picking up a loaf of bread that says "wheat" on it, it probably has very little whole grains in it. Read labels carefully because they are very tricky.