Wholegrains

Wholegrains are unrefined grains and are a great addition to any healthy diet. As their name suggests, they are the ‘whole’ grain and aren’t milled to strip out the bran and germ like refined grains. Up your intake to enjoy a world of benefits.

The fact that wholegrains aren’t milled, means they retain their fibre content as well as lots of other key nutrients. Wholegrains provide fibre, B vitamins, essential fatty acids, protein, antioxidants and micronutrients, according to the British Dietetic association.

According to the Mayo Clinic, wholegrains are ‘the healthiest kind of grains’ and have been ‘linked to a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers and other health problems’. The British Dietetic Association say that it has growing evidence to show that ‘eating wholegrains regularly as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle may help to reduce the risk of many common diseases’ and quotes research which says that the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes may be up to 30 per cent lower in people who regularly eat wholegrains.

The soluble fibre content of this wonder grain is also cause for celebration.  Fibre is a great food source for friendly gut bacteria which helps to keep your digestive system ticking over nicely.

It’s also thought that eating wholegrains can help to keep you slim. The British Dietetic Association recommends eating them as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle to maintain a healthy body weight.

So, what’s the best way to get your fill of this healthy diet staple? Oats, brown rice, wholewheat pasta and wholemeal bread are all great options – simply look for items with ‘whole’ in front of them and you should be on the right track! Watch our for the term multi-grain as this simply means that are different types of grain incorporated in the product but not that the product contains any wholegrains.

Wholegrains are easy to incorporate into your diet. Porridge oats for brekkie and brown rice with baked salmon and vegetables for dinner should do the trick!