Staying Healthy
Are your whole grains wholly healthy?
Whole grains provide heart-healthy protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. But in some processed food products, excessive added sugars and calories may be hitchhiking along with the whole-grain goodness, according to a Harvard study. Products that fly the whole-grain flag include breads, bagels, English muffins, cereals, crackers, granola and cereal bars, and chips.
In the study, published in Public Health Nutrition, researchers determined that the best overall indicator of healthy whole-grain products is the American Heart Association's "10-to-1" standard (no more than 10 total carbs for each carb from fiber). These products tend to contain less added sugar and sodium and pack fewer calories per serving.
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