Posts Tagged ‘FDA’
Whole Grains; a vital part of a plant-based diet
The CDC, FDA and many other American government agencies are taking a serious look at supporting a plant-based diet. Why the sudden turn? Perhaps they are finally realizing that a plant-based diet has long time been recommended by experts in the fight against cancer, diabetes and obesity. All of which are hot topics and health concerns in America.
It's no secret that fruits and vegetables (in their most pure, unprocessed form) fall into the plant-based diet category (a blueberry pop tart is not a fruit). The issue gets a little cloudy with grains.
Grains are a plant and part of a plant-based diet if eaten WHOLE. Grains in the form of white, dead, processed flour are not the whole part of the plant that is meant to be consumed but only the endosperm (or starch) portion of the grain. White flour products do not qualify as part of a plant-based diet; whole grains do.
Much of the time the whole grain must be milled into flour for use, but the fact that the whole grain is being used means the entire plant is being consumed thus adding much needed nutrients to your plant-based diet. Grains used in this manner rather than white flour are the basis for the whole food pyramid.
For more information about why using the whole grain is best for your health as part of a plant-based diet, watch the following video: http://www.youtube.com/thewheatguy#p/u/42/y_GR4nLsLJs
How do I eat more whole grains?
This is the eve of the New Year, 2009. One of the resolutions for many people is to eat more healthy and take charge of thier nutrition. Today I was asked a very simple (yet also could get confusing) question: How do I eat more whole grains?
The FDA has said to make at least half of your grain choices 'whole grains'. This is certainly good advice to follow, but why stop there? Why not make MOST of your grain choices whole grains? Many people don't know where to start. Let me give you some ideas:
1. Eat brown rice (not par boiled) instead of white rice
2. Eat only whole wheat bread (or at best home mill your flour from the whole fresh grain!!)
3. Whole rolled oats (also known as 'old fashioned') are a whole grain. Choose them over instant.
4. Ditch the pancake and muffin mixes and use at LEAST half whole wheat for the flour
(again home milling means you can use ALL whole grain flour) – see a video I did on 'Make a-head Muffins" here.
These are just a few suggestions to get started. Once your diet starts to include more whole grains, you will find more ways everywhere to add them to your menu! Don't forget the POPCORN!
Best Blessings!
Donna Miller
http://www.millersgrainhouse.com/store
- What’s Wrong with a Typical Storage Food List?I got an email the other day from a loving and well meaning friend who was sharing how to buy storage food cheaply over time. It was a wonderful gesture and right in line with the need to prepare. Honestly, though, it got me thinking and wondering what’s wrong with the typical food storage list. […]
- Water, water everywhere nor any a drop to drink.This line from the poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner rings more true when thinking of surviving difficult times. As we’ve stated before in at least one email that has gone out to everyone who subscribes, water is more VITAL than food when surviving is the issue. A human body can last at least […]
- Learning Survival Skills, Techniques and PlanningAlthough I would not classify what our family does as being ‘Survivalists’, we do factor that portion of planning and preparing into our ‘Prepping’ lifestyle. The skills, tools, techniques and planning it takes to survive in difficult times have been lost due to the over abundance of conveniences. Even if you don’t plan on ‘roughing […]
- Long-Term Workable Pantry TOOLS.It all sounds nice and good to say ‘Build a Long-Term Workable Pantry” but if you don’t know where to get the tools to do so, it can be a bit frustrating. Our hope is to give you some realistic options to choose from. We’ve touched on how to go about it and some steps […]
