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Whole Wheat for a Healthy Body
There seems to be a big fuss now days about eating whole grains, but do you know why it's important?
Few people realize how nutritional and beneficial whole wheat products are. Whole grains are a good source of vitamins B, E, in addition to magnesium, fiber and iron, plus important antioxidants that are not found in fruits and vegetables.
Whole grains are key for a healthy diet. Whole grains help maintain a stable blood sugar level, which is critically important to diabetics. Additionally, unprocessed wheat contains all the parts of the wheat. During processing important nutritious parts of the wheat kernel are removed, rendering the processed wheat virtually nutritionally inert. An unprocessed whole grain still contains its entire set of vitamins and minerals.
Historians believe that man has been eating wheat for the last 12,000 years; it probably started in southwestern Asia in one of the so-called river civilizations. This incredibly nutritious plant was revered in parts of China as sacred food. In the U.S., wheat only started to be grown extensively in the 19th century after being introduced by Christopher Columbus in 1492.
One healthy cereal mix, Bulgur wheat, is made from several wheat plans and can commonly be found in health food stores. It is commonly used in the Middle East and the surrounding region and is great for baking, using in soups and salads. The biggest benefit of Bulgur wheat is its low glycemic index. It has an index number of 46, ideal for diabetics who need to keep their glycemic index stable. In comparison, white bread made from processed wheat has a glycemic index of 100, which is above the recommended limit.
Since people are much more aware of the importance of whole grains now days it has become a lot easier to find whole grain versions of your favorite foods. You can now get whole grain pastas and whole grain baking mixes at the local supermarket. It is also a lot more convenient to make whole wheat food. You can buy whole grain cooking mixes for things like whole wheat pancakes and whole wheat muffins so you can whip up a healthy meal quickly and easily.
Obviously diabetics aren't the only ones that benefit from an improved diet. Eating more whole grains will help a healthy persons body remain strong. Getting the numerous vitamins and minerals from whole grains will help protect against sickness and cancer. I don't want to tout whole grains like they are some wonder drug, but diets rich in whole grains puts a lot more fiber into your system. Which helps you feel fuller, cleans the bowels and reduces the risk of obesity.
Don't let it be a doctors trip that convinces you to add more whole grains to your diet, do it now so you can reap the benefits of a healthy life.
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