Whole grains Linked to Smaller Waistline, Optimal Blood Pressure, Cholesterol and Blood Sugar Levels

Adding whole grains to your meals and snacks each day reaps many health benefits. A recent study has reinforced the many reasons to enjoy these healthy carbohydrates as they are linked to a smaller waistline, better blood sugar control, healthy cholesterol levels, and lower blood pressure.

The study used data from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring Cohort which was conducted over 18 years and made up of 3100 adults mostly in their 50’s at the beginning of the study. It was found that those individuals who ate more than three servings of wholegrains each day had a smaller waistline, lower systolic blood pressure (the blood pressure when your heart contracts) and better blood sugar control than those who ate less than one and a half serves of wholegrains each day.

Over the 18 years, the people in the low wholegrains group resulted in an average waist circumference increase of over 1 inch compared to only half an inch in the high wholegrain group. On top of this the triglyceride levels, which in excess can lead to heart disease, were reduced more in those people who chose wholegrains over refined grain varieties in each four year follow up period.

Wholegrains contain a matrix of health benefits which can explain for these results. With the wholegrain comes more fibre which is linked to support healthy blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Wholegrains are rich in the minerals potassium and magnesium as well as antioxidants which support healthy blood pressure.

Fibre also promotes a healthy weight by keeping you feeling fuller for longer. Soluble fiber plays an important role in removing cholesterol from your body and preventing it from being reabsorbed, as a result, helping to lower your overall cholesterol levels.

Having a healthy gut is essential to your health. Wholegrains contain the food for the good bacteria in your gut called prebiotics. These include resistant starch and polyphenols in wholegrains feed the good bacteria in your gut. These good microbes help you to maintain a healthy weight, support your heart to be its healthiest and regulate optimal blood sugar levels.

If you are wanting to make sure that you are giving your body at least 3 serves of whole grains each day, a serve of wholegrains can be:

• One slice of bread (40g)
• Half a cup of cooked whole grain pasta.
• One quarter to half a cup of cooked brown, black or red rice, whole grain couscous, or quinoa.
• Half a cup of cooked rolled oats
• 35g of whole grain containing crackers such as Corn Thins slices.
• 30g air popped corn

Take home message: Don’t be fooled by the carbohydrate quitters as not all foods which contain carbohydrates harm your health. In fact, wholegrains can do many things to promote a healthy body and help you to live your best life.

Reference:

Caleigh M Sawicki, Paul F Jacques, Alice H Lichtenstein, Gail T Rogers, Jiantao Ma, Edward Saltzman, Nicola M McKeown. Whole- and Refined-Grain Consumption and Longitudinal Changes in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in the Framingham Offspring Cohort. The Journal of Nutrition, 2021; DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxab177