Back to the whole grain issue. I have had a few more questions of late, so I will expand on this topic. First, whole grain, unprocessed carbohydrates, offer the following benefits:

--They’re high in fiber, helping us maintain a healthy GI tract
--They’re slow to digest, helping us control blood sugar
--They’re loaded with vitamins and minerals, improving our nutrient density
--They’re satisfying, helping us control appetite

As a result of these benefits, whole grain, unprocessed carbohydrate sources tend to be handled better, versus the more heavily processed starchy carbohydrate sources such as breads, pastas, rices, crackers, and cereals.

Second, just because a food package says “whole grain,” that doesn’t mean the product is a whole grain food. When I recommend whole, unprocessed carbohydrate sources, I’m recommending unprocessed foods that, in their entirety, are comprised of whole grains.....not foods that are highly processed (like breads, cereals, crackers, snacks, etc). And, not foods that have a light sprinkling of processed grains - included for marketing purposes, not for health purposes.

Examples of whole grain, unprocessed carbohydrates are the following:

--Plain full flake or steel cut oats
--Plain amaranth
--Plain quinoa
--Plain millet
--Plain wheat berries
--Plain barley
--Plain wild rice

If you’re not sure where to pick up your whole grains, grocery stores and supermarkets with bulk food sections usually have a decent selection.

Get cooking!