Health Bites : Eating right                                

                                              Wholegrain

Posted on 28th September, 2009/comments

Health Bites : Eating Right

                       The Wholesome-Wholegrain

'White bread, pizzas, cakes, cookies in colourful wraps'  are tempting enough to pick up. Undoubtedly giving invitation to  lifestyle disorders slowly but surely in the  long run.  'Maida' or refined flour used to make all these goodies is the chief culprit. For refined flour is the innermost part of the wholewheat which gives just the empty calories and is devoid of many essential nutrients.

                                   Components of a wholegrain 

White rice and maida (refined flour) which are processed from brown rice and wholehweat respectively, lose all the health benefits associated with the wholegrain.

Milling and grinding the grain provide different grades of flours to be used in cooking subsequently. Wholewheat when processed  gives  broken-wheat (dalia) or couscous, Semolina (rawa), and flours of different grades. Maida or refined flour is the by-product of the whole process, the most starchy and nutrition-less product of the wholegrain. 

Courtsey:Wikipedia

Health Benefits :

• -Low glycemic-index of wholegrain slows down the process of digestion giving a feeling of satiation for a longer period. Thus help reduce the hunger pangs and obesity.
• -High fibre contents in it makes the stool bulky and help in easy excretion, relieving constipation.
• -Low glycemic-index of wholegrain also makes it a good choice for diabetics, as it stabilizes the blood-glucose levels.
• -Soluble-fibres in it helps reduce the cholesterol levels by absorbing the LDLs (bad) cholesterols from the blood stream.
• -Minerals and vitamins present in wholegrains provides immunity against cancer, high-blood pressure and many heart ailments.
• -Eating wholegrain daily can also reduce fatigue and anaemia by providing adequate amounts of iron to the body.

Prudent health choices :

• -Soak brown rice overnight before cooking to activate the process of germination thereby increasing its nutritive value.
• -Keep a stock of wholewheat crackers and cereals ready for any-time snack option.
• - Use wholewheat flour in baking instead of refined flour.
• -Make khichdi using various grains to increase the nutrition manifolds.
• -Experiment with porridge using combination of different grains such as oats, barley, ragi, millet and corn.
• -Start mixing brown rice in the white rice to develop the taste gradually.

Incorporate healthy measures to be in good shape. Switch to wholesome wholegrain ! 

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