For any kid who grew up eating doughy, thick Wonder Bread for lunch, the encouragement by dietitians and nutritionists to switch to whole wheat bread can be a tough transition.
Bread, like any other part of our diet, is an acquired taste. Starting out early helps since children are much more adaptable to accepting foods than adults. This does not mean that children LIKE as many foods as adults - children are renowned picky eaters. But if you only expose them to healthy, whole grain foods they won't have the opportunity to develop a taste for white bread or other non-nutritious foods.
Adults, however, must learn to change their diet preferences because of knowledge. Understanding why whole wheat is superior to white bread can help you feel good about the compromise and encourage you to make it the standard for your children. Who knows - you may even like it!
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
The two biggest differences between white bread and whole wheat are the processing and the nutritional value.
Flour is made from wheat berries. The wheat berry is made up of the bran, the germ and the endosperm. All parts are filled with nutrients and are used in whole wheat flour.
White bread on the other hand, uses only the endosperm - the starchy inner layer. There is a total of 30 nutrients missing in white bread. The nutritional difference is immense and has measurable impact on our health.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF SWITCHING?
The fiber content of whole wheat bread has several health benefits.
Fiber helps the digestive system. It also creates a 'full' sensation and thus can help with weight control. Research has been conducted by Harvard and other organizations that shows men and women who eat high-fiber foods have less heart attacks and strokes than those who don't.
There is also an increased risk of diabetes in children who eat refined white flour - a risk that has been proven by the increase in cases of childhood diabetes.
WHAT DO I LOOK FOR?
Watch out for words like 'wheat flour' or 'enriched wheat flour' as they can be mostly made from white flour with just a small amount of whole wheat added in.
Look for 'whole wheat' or other whole grains, like oat. And don't be mislead by the name of the product. Names like wheat, whole bran, stoned wheat, 12 grain and others are still mostly white flour. The only way to know for sure is to read the label.
The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.
Emily Clark is editor at lifestyle health news and lifestyle health news where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.
Culver prom limo ..What is nutrition? We hear so many reports today on... Read More
You may have noticed an ever-expanding choice of oils at... Read More
Today, more than ever, consumers over the age of 50... Read More
The typical American diet already provides plenty of protein and... Read More
Food in general has the distinction of being probably the... Read More
Having spent most of my life living off of junk... Read More
If you have a business trip tomorrow morning, you've probably... Read More
Have you seen those "fat free" foods in supermarkets? Have... Read More
Have you ever watched someone who appears thin and healthy... Read More
So, what is new about this that you already don't... Read More
1. Enjoy what you eatWhether someone is following the Atkins... Read More
Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are essential to the development... Read More
Students might start thinking a little differently, once they learn... Read More
Acid reflux disease, or GERD, is a common compliant of... Read More
THE RISKWhen you consume food that's high in acid or... Read More
DIETARY SOURCES OF GLUTATHIONE: Glutathione (GSH) is an antioxidant and... Read More
In this fast paced world, good nutrition may sound very... Read More
It's 5:30 p.m. and you're heading home after a long,... Read More
I'm 40-something years old, and for 40-something years breakfast has... Read More
How many times have you tried to diet/lose weight in... Read More
Mango is my favorite fruit next to pineapples. They're sweet,... Read More
I start from the premise that eating instinctively means eating... Read More
Apart from eating many of the wonderful vegetables and fruits... Read More
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a dangerous condition that can... Read More
When it comes to food, we can't ignore the facts... Read More
Wood Dale limo ..Archeological records indicate that man has cultivated the olive tree... Read More
Many of us sprinkle oregano on our pizza and stews... Read More
Since Dr Basant Puri, a consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer... Read More
I spent a few days at a resort in Mexico... Read More
During the Second World War, the Germans used fluoride as... Read More
Initially discovered as a new element in 1811 by Barnard... Read More
What Ever Happened to the Basic FourThe USDA was originally... Read More
This free list of fat burning foods will help you... Read More
In the last twenty years, a huge and growing body... Read More
Studies on whey demonstrate it's an even better protein supplement... Read More
Mango is my favorite fruit next to pineapples. They're sweet,... Read More
1. Enjoy what you eatWhether someone is following the Atkins... Read More
Nails are a protective horn at the end of our... Read More
Some say they don't or can't buy organic foods due... Read More
The adrenal or "stress glands" are small, triangular shaped glands... Read More
Summer is the time when we sweat highly and beating... Read More
New studies bring to our attention that high levels of... Read More
Nutrition usually only comes up when people are finally deciding... Read More
You would probably think that I was writing a lot... Read More
We come from a society where growing organic and just... Read More
I know that the headline is a oldie, but it... Read More
Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in... Read More
First of all you have to have a bucket. You... Read More
Did you know that the food you eat when you... Read More
Did you know that the food you eat could be... Read More
Nutrition |