We frequently argue the nutritional aspect of many foods. Today we’re discussing whole grains. Here are a few of the nutritional benefits of consuming them.

What Are Whole Grains?

You hear in the news about whole wheat, cracked wheat, honey wheat, whole grain wheat and other labels that might have your head whirling. But, what is wholesome and what isn’t?

Whole grains are grains that contain all portions of the seed. Have you ever examined a piece of popcorn before it pops? It’s a kernel of corn. There’s a tough but thin external covering. The yellow that you see is the majority of the seed and is underneath this external covering. At the bottom of the seed is a small portion that’s another part altogether.

There are 3 portions of a seed. The external covering is the bran. If you know something about bran, then you recognize that it contains lots of fiber. The majority of the kernel is the endosperm. It’s the part that’s frequently kept after processing. The littler portion is the germ. Young plants spring from this portion of the seed.

During processing, the bran and the germ are peeled away leaving the inside endosperm. With a piece of popcorn, this is the portion that pops up nice and pretty. While it does bear some nutritional value, it does not have the equivalent number of nutrients that consuming the whole seed does.

Whole grains are made of the seeds of varied plants. Many seeds may be consumed as is. They may be consumed as cold cereal or sprinkled on top of yogurt or in smoothies. Consuming whole grain breads you might come across seeds inside the bread.

Even with cooking, using the whole seed component furnishes additional nutrients. We’re discussing selenium, potassium and magnesium. Potassium is a critical electrolyte for the body. Most folks do not get enough. Others are critical to brain function and cell function.

If you look at refined grains against whole grains you’ll discover that there’s no substantial difference in the caloric intake. What is different is the amount of fiber. There’s more fiber in the whole grains.

Fiber is a helpful aid in the body. Fiber helps dispatch fat when it moves through the system. It likewise promotes digestive health and healthy weight loss. Lower blood glucose levels and non-fluctuating insulin levels are likewise a benefit of fiber.

You might already consume a lot of carbohydrates. Changing to sounder options may increase weight loss, promote healthy elimination and provide vitamins and minerals for overall bodily function. Alter your food staples now.

What is Aging?

Some scientists and physicians suggest that aging is a ‘disease’. This is not a fair description. Aging is not a disease but part of the process of life itself! You cannot reverse aging but you can help slow it down to an optimal level which nature intended. So, how long should we live for? This is a subject of much debate and disagreement. Some scientists claim extraordinary times…200+ years. However, this is really in the realm of science fiction.

The position of Xtend-Life is that it is possible to live to the projected maximum human life span of 120 years. To achieve this, your life has to be well balanced! In other words, your lifestyle, your diet, the amount of exercise you do, the environment you live in and your nutrient intake have to be as close as possible to optimal. To learn more about how aging occurs and ways to slow down your biological clock, visit Xtend-Life‘s Overview of Anti-Aging research page today.