Wheat Crop (photo by Anne-Mette Jørsfeldt, courtesy of morguefile.com)

If you haven’t yet worked whole grains into your regular diet it’s time you did. In just the latest news about the health benefits of whole grain, Yahoo! News has posted a report from Reuters Health indicating that losing weight by filling up on whole grains can lead to a healthier heart.

In a study of obese adults, researchers from the Pennsylvania State University found that those who increased their whole-grain intake shed more belly fat and reduced inflammation in the blood vessels. Both abdominal fat and blood vessel inflammation are linked to heart attack and stroke.

The Reuters Health story quotes Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton, the senior researcher on the study, as stating, "This is the first clinical study to prove that a diet rich in whole grains can lead to weight loss and reduce the risk of several chronic diseases."

Whole grains retain valuable nutrients and fibers that get stripped out of the white flour baked into white bread. The rich flavor texture of whole wheat gets eliminated as well. Similarly, brown rice is a whole grain choice, while white rice is not.

The really good news is that whole grain foods can be delicious. Try oatmeal with fresh fruit, cinnamon, and a teaspoon of honey. Fresh-baked, whole grain semolina bread is a wonderful accompaniment to a favorite salad. Mushroom & barley soup is a tasty way to get some whole grains without any animal fat. Whole grain pasta with a tomato sauce seasoned (garlic, oregano, basil, etc.) to your taste and served with steamed broccoli, spinach, or green beans is a terrific meal. Squeeze a little fresh lemon and grind some black pepper on those veggies.

A lot of people are delighted to learn that popcorn is a whole grain!

If you’d like to read the Reuters Health article cited above go to: Whole grains may curb belly fat, inflammation

To view previous posts on the topic go to:
1. Whole Grains Battle Heart Disease & Stroke
2. Whole Grains for a Healthy Heart