Whole Grains

Whole grains are all the rage. So what exactly are they? And what’s the difference between whole grain and products made with whole grain?  Here’s how to cut through the confusing marketing jargon so you can make an informed choice about grains.

Imagine planting a row each of wheat, Wheaties and pasta. The whole wheat, with its germ and hull intact, will grow and flourish. Indeed, whole grains are seeds. However, once a grain is flaked, rolled, puffed or milled into flour, it’s no longer a viable seed. It won’t grow. It’s lost its vital life energy.

So even though breakfast cereals, pasta and bread are often marketed as “whole grain”, they’re processed grain products. Even though these products are made with whole grain flours, they’re still processed and have less life energy than the original grain. So it’s ideal to eat actual whole grains more often than processed grains, whether they’re made with whole grain flour or not. Whole grains will keep your blood sugar and energy levels more even than any kind of processed grains.