This is something that is important to understand, so you won’t get fooled at the supermarket.
You probably already know that whole grains are good for you, and refined wheat is not so good for you. I’m not going to talk about why. (Google it)
The problem is, people don’t seem to understand that multi-grain, cracked wheat, honey wheat, and anything else with the word wheat in it, is not necessarily whole grain, and therefore not what you thought you were buying when you tossed it in your grocery basket.
So here it folks. The following explanation is taken from the Linus Pauling Institute, which is a great resource when it comes to nutrition. Take a minute, and avoid being one of those silly (read annoying) people who use words they don’t understand.
Grains are seeds of plants belonging to the grass family. Species that produce edible grains include wheat, rice, maize (corn), barley, oats, and rye. An intact grain has an outer layer of bran, a carbohydrate-rich middle layer called the endosperm, and an inner germ layer. Although not always intact, whole-grain foods contain the entire grain, including the bran, the endosperm, and the germ.
Whole grains are rich in potentially beneficial compounds, including vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals, such as lignans, phytosterols, and fiber. Most of these compounds are located in the bran or the germ of the grain, both of which are lost during the refining process, leaving only the starchy endosperm.
If you don’t like whole grain bread or pasta then don’t buy it. White bread usually comes with some kind of toy right? I’m not going to pick on you just because you have the taste buds of a 10 year old.
What you choose to eat is up to you, but this information should keep those of you with healthy intentions from being fooled with fancy packaging that makes a product look like something it’s not. If it doesn’t say “whole wheat” or “whole grain”, then it’s probably not.
