Sandwiched between the sugar-coated cereals are the cartoon-free boxes that push
more adult concerns, such as a "good source of whole grains." Next to the white
bread, whole grains pop-up again, offering a loaf of bread that can "fight heart
disease and certain cancers."
In the battle to win your dollar, food companies are now appealing more and more
to your health. Dr. Nadine Sahyoun, a nutrition expert at the University of
Maryland, says it’s about time.
"If it makes people more aware, that’s great." she says.
With the recent plummet of low-fat diets, which after an eight-year long study,
failed to show much help, Sahyoun is quick to say that she and others do not
know the full story on whole grains. But in the confusion over what diet is
best, her advice is refreshingly simple.
"It’s a question about substituting some foods for others." says Sahyoun, which
can be as easy as eating a piece of whole grain bread instead of white. Both are
roughly the same in calories, the same in fat, but one is high in refined sugars
and flour, whereas the other is naturally good for you.
In a recent study, Sahyoun looked at whether whole grain foods could help older
adults ward off the type of problems that lead to heart disease and diabetes.
The elderly are more prone to insulin resistance and impaired blood sugar
control, implying that carbohydrate-rich grains might do more harm than good.
But looking at 535 healthy seniors, the researchers found that getting more than
three servings of whole grains a day was as good for them as it is for young and
middle-aged adults. Compared to those who ate fewer whole grains, healthy eaters
had lower rates of heart disease and the type of blood sugar problems that could
raise the risk of diabetes.
The results, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, add to the
growing benefits seen with whole grains. In contrast to refined grains, such as
in white rice, research has shown that brown rice and other types of whole
grains may indeed reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and various
cancers.
The latest governmental dietary guidelines call for three ounces of whole grains
a day, which are easy to pile on with wheat bread, cereals, brown rice and even
whole grain tortilla chips. This has led to a type of marketing war, with
companies pushing to add a whole grain stamp to their foods.
In a petition to the Food and Drug Administration, General Mills asked for a
standard "good" or "excellent" stamp to be allowed on their packaging, based on
how much whole grain it contained. The FDA, in an initial ruling, has so far
refused to sanction it.
The agency recommends having companies list the amount of whole grains on their
packaging, rather than having a "good" or "excellent" stamp. Nevertheless, as of
early 2006, at least 49 different companies have put the stamp on 561 products,
according to the Whole Grains Council, a lobbying group.
Sahyoun shrugs off the new-found attention in pushing for more whole grains.
"It’s not that hard." she says, to figure out what is healthy to eat.
Whole grain is the first ingredient listed on food packages that are high in
them. They are not necessarily in "brown" or "hearty grain" bread, so check the
labeling before you buy something that looks wholesome. Oatmeal, popcorn and
wild rice are also good sources for whole grains. Experts recommend getting half
of your grains from whole grain sources. The best way is to substitute one grain
for another, instead of adding more.
"We don’t need to go overboard on this." Sahyoun says.
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