Eating what you think is "Whole". May not be after all!

There are three bread choices on your supermarket wall: whole grain, whole wheat, and white bread. So what do you choose? Well obviously white bread goes right out the window--it is universally known as the demon of all carbs! No nutrition, entirely refined, no fiber, not filling at all. Don't even bother with it! Soft, fluffy white bread can turn your body soft as well; as we all know, you do not work out so hard at NEXT LEVEL for results like that!

Then we come to the next crucial choice: whole grain vs. wheat. Is there really a difference? Many would argue that there is actually no difference at all, they are "whole" and therefore "healthy". Is this true? Unfortunately, no. If they were the same, the manufacturers would not bother to differentiate between the two. This label has come about as a result of a refining process which alters the anatomy of the grain. Have you ever noticed how whole wheat bread has a longer shelf life? There is a reason for that; bugs are not able to survive eating this type of refined product, therefore, your bread keeps longer as it is not affected by external factors.

The method of refinement is as such: the germ and bran are removed from the whole grain, leaving nothing but the wheat, and a very small amount of nutrition. To make up for the stripping of the grain, the product is "enriched" with additional nutrients and preservatives, which make it more appealing to the customer, but, in reality, do little in terms of enhancing the bread. In the end, whole wheat is essentially the same as white bread. In fact, molasses is usually added to the product in order to give it a brown, and therefore "healthier" appearance.

Whole grain products do not undergo this milling process, and, consequently, maintain all of their natural nutrients. True, it does not have the same shelf life as its counterparts, but refrigerating, or even freezing and then thawing/toasting the bread can help solve that problem.  If you eat a lot of bread anyway, you don't need to worry about how long it will last, since you will eat it before it goes bad anyway!

There are lots of other delicious whole grain products you can enjoy, in addition to bread. For example, you can have:

-Barley--put it in a veggie soup to make it more satisfying and delicious!
-Brown rice--always a good choice for a stir fry with shrimp
-Millet--Arizmendi has some delicious millet muffins with raisins; they are one of my favorites! Just remember to watch portion size.
-Oatmeal--make it with water or milk, add some fresh fruit, nuts, and cinnamon for a delicious breakfast!
-Popcorn--Yes, popcorn is a healthy whole grain, but not when it is covered in butter! Make it at home, add your own toppings: sprinkle some Parmesan cheese, adobo, and Mrs. dash for a savory treat, or cinnamon and splenda to satisfy that sweet tooth, minus the guilt!

So now you know the secrets to eating right, so you have no excuses! Eat well, exercise lots, and enjoy life.

To yours in good health,

Dr. Abu
A. Baxter