Look for ‘Whole’ Grains; If ‘Enriched,’ Toss It

I once lost 30 pounds over the course of about 3 months when I adopted a vegan diet. Those days are gone for now, but even more so than cutting out all animal products, I eliminated ALL white stuff – pasta, breads, rice – and I feel this more than anything contributed to that slim-down.

Neanderthals never ate grains. It wasn’t until about 10,000 years ago that Middle-Easterners learned how to make wheat digestible by grinding and cooking it.

And yet, we’ve grown up thinking that grains are healthy for us. While this is true for some of them, many of us have been fed a steady diet of refined grains, ripped of completely all nutrients. What we’re really doing to ourselves when we eat it is loading our bodies up with sugar. Here’s why.

When grains are refined, they are altered from their natural state by stripping selective elements away. What’s left gets bleached and grinded and refined even further with the addition of additives in an effort to “enrich” it.

Carbohydrates are broken down in our bodies into glucose, which is what our bodies use for energy. Refined grains are considered simple carbohydrates, meaning that they’re made of only a couple sugar molecules that are easy to pull apart and digest. This quick digestion delivers a big sugar rush that is usually followed by a lethargic crash. Other food that falls into this category are: sodas, baked goods, candies and unfortunately … beer.

It is with great sadness I must acknowledge that when I have a beer, I’m merely drinking a liquid doughnut.

All carbohydrates break down into glucose, however, complex carbohydrates, like what is found in whole grains, beans and vegetables, have more molecules, making them slower to break down, contributing to longer-lasting energy.

When glucose is swimming around in our bloodstreams, the pancreas produces insulin, which helps direct that glucose into the cells of our organs – it’s fuel. The more glucose in your body, the more insulin the pancreas churns out. Over time, cells can’t keep up with all the insulin (Insulin Resistance). So what happens? More insulin is made to try to combat the glucose. Over time, this will eventually wear out the pancreas. These processes can lead to OBESITY, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure … you name it.

I always check labels when I’m at the grocery store, with breads and pastas in particular. Many of them are sold under the guise of being healthy when they might not be. Always look for “WHOLE” grain on the label. If it’s not there, and especially if it says “ENRICHED,” throw it back.

I’m not militant on these things. It’s tough to follow all of the food rules, and with grains especially it’s sometimes more convenient to have the refined ones. Have you ever heard of a whole-grain pizza crust? You’ll be hard-pressed to find one I’m sure. I tried experimenting with my own, without much luck … so far. I am not giving up pizza, though, so refined flour will just have to do at those times. I advocate simply being mindful of what we do to our bodies, and just make some effort in spots where we think we’ll be successful. A little is better than nothing.