Debunking grain myths
Join us today we talked to the experts and are debunking grain myths you might hear! Grains are a very common food that many people can include in their diets, but there is also a lot of information available. Are they healthy? Should we eat grains? We’re exploring two of those myths today:
Myth #1: grains cause weight gain
Fact: There is no scientific evidence that eating grains causes weight gain, or removing grains causes weight loss.
Some people who eliminate grains from their diet lose weight because they remove processed foods, which are high in calories, fat and sugar e.g., baked goods and/or fast foods. Whole grains are part of a healthy diet when trying to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. To date, 14 cross-sectional studies have found that ~3 daily servings of whole grains is associated with lower body mass index in adults*.
Myth #2: grains cause blood sugar to increase
Fact: Grains increase blood sugar.
People with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and pancreatitis can experience high blood glucose (sugar) levels, which can damage the body. One of the best ways to manage blood glucose is through healthy eating. Highly processed and refined grain foods can cause sharp increases and decreases in blood glucose whereas whole grain foods help stabilize these levels. Whole grain barley, wheat berries, whole grain wheat pasta and brown rice slowly convert carbohydrates into glucose and are better choices to help prevent and manage chronic diseases.
*https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14594777/
