Whole Grains are Good

That simple statement bombards us daily - on bread and cereal packages, in newspaper and magazine articles, on television ads, in doctors' and nutritionists' advice for healthy eating.

But why are they good, you might wonder. And beyond brown rice or whole-wheat bread, what are they?

Whole or minimally processed grains are good because they contain a wealth of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. They've been shown to help lower the incidence of cancer, heart disease and diabetes, and that fiber - your grandma might have called it "roughage" - can help reduce cholesterol if consumed on a regular basis.

Whole grains range from the familiar wheat - also kamut, spelt, emmer and the wheat-rye hybrid, triticale - to barley, corn and popcorn, millet, oats, rice, rye, sorghum and wild rice (not true rice at all, but the seeds of an aquatic grass). Amaranth, buckwheat and quinoa are used in similar ways but aren't true grains because they aren't members of the grass family.

Incorporating more whole grains and foods made with whole grains into the diet is an easy and often inexpensive way to go "green" and eat organic food, says Cassie Knowlton, registered dietitian for the local Women Infants Children nutrition program.

"It's a matter of changing how we think and stepping out there and trying something new that's good for your health. I think people are changing their attitudes."

Health benefits of Organic Food

There are numerous benefits to both eating organic foods, and to organic gardening. A huge benefit comes from a renewed relationship with nature. Doing your own organic gardening makes this a personal commitment. Gardening is just plain good for the soul. There is nothing quite like getting your hands in the soil for really good "grounding".


In addition to the mental and emotional benefits of growing and eating organic food, there are also the physical benefits. These physical benefits can be boiled down to nutrients present in organic foods that are not in commercial foods and toxins not in organic foods that are present in commercial foods. A recent article in the Journal of Applied Nutrition gave credence to the notion that organic foods have higher nutrient levels that non-organic food. In this study the mineral content of organic apples, pear, potatoes, wheat, and sweet corn were compared to commercial varieties. Overall the organic foods showed much higher levels of nutrient minerals and much lower levels of heavy metals.

Some Benefits of Organic Food

for Personal Health

1. Reduced exposure to toxins used in conventional agricultural practices

2. Substantially higher levels of nutrients available for consumption

3. Better health, stronger immune systems, less obesity

4. Better blood function – oxygen-carrying ability improved

5. Better sleep

6. In children, less harm to developing brain and nervous systems

Why do Organic Foods last longer

As we are aware, Organic food and conventional foods are not grown the same way. Organic farming is regulated and is more in line with the traditional methods. Here no synthetic chemical pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers are used. Sewage sludge is not permitted, nor are irradiation and genetically modified foods used.


Instead, the organic farmer works in unison with the land and the soil. He recognizes that the soil is alive. The farmer knows that healthy soil is full of nutrients and that plants grown in this soil are healthy and full of nutrients.

Organic produce does not miraculously defy the life cycle and defeat decay.

To accurately determine which growing method would produce plants that lasted longer, you would need to pick straight from each field - the organic and the non-organic.

When purchasing bananas, don't choose the green ones. Chances are that they were picked so yearly in their life cycle that they may never get 'ripe'. Instead select bananas well on the way to being ripe or with very little green left on the peeling.

Buy the healthiest looking vegetables for these would be the most alive and with the most nutrients. And ideally, select organic whenever you can

Take precaution when reading labels before Organic Food purchase

Generally when you see the term ‘organic’ on food labels you can be sure that the product had to meet certain standards laid down by the law. These standards may include prohibitions on the use of harmful synthetic substances, genetic engineering, growth hormones, irradiation, antibiotics and artificial ingredients and the application of environmentally friendly farming methods. In the case of farming for meat, poultry, eggs and dairy, the standards will cover the health and welfare of livestock. In other words, they have to be adequately fed, and they must be housed in adequate, sanitary conditions allowing for exercise, freedom of movement, and minimum stress. The standards will even cover the handling of the product – processing, preservation, packaging and even transportation methods must be environmentally friendly and supportive of health standards.


Note, however, that such descriptions on products as ‘natural’, ‘traditional’ or ‘environmentally friendly’ do not necessarily mean the product was grown or processed organically. Also, the description ‘organic’ doesn’t mean the entire product was produced organically. Always read the labels carefully.

Source- Natureschoice