Wholegrains for health

You probably already know you need to eat less fat, salt and sugar and eat more fruit and vegetables but did you know you should also be eating more wholegrain foods?

Studies into these ‘unsung heroes’ of healthy eating show that a diet rich in wholegrains can help reduce the risk of several diseases, including heart disease, certain types of cancer and type 2 diabetes.

What are wholegrains?

Grains like wheat, barley, rye and oats, are made up of three parts; the endosperm, the bran and the germ.

The endosperm, a concentrated source of starch, makes up about 80% of the whole grain. Bran, the outermost layer, is a rich source of dietary fibre, B vitamins and phytochemicals. While the germ contains, ‘healthy’ fats, B vitamins and vitamin E.

As the name suggests, wholegrain foods are those which contain all three parts of the grain.

How to eat more wholegrains

There are plenty of simple and tasty ways to eat wholegrains:

• Swap white bread for wholemeal bread.
• Choose brown rice instead of white.
• Use wholemeal flour for baking.
• Choose oatcakes or wholemeal crackers.
• Swap couscous for bulgur wheat.

Wholegrain cereals are also a convenient and nourishing way to get the health benefits of wholegrain.

All the following Kellogg’s cereals are wholegrain cereals:

• Raisin Wheats.
• Frosted Wheats.
• Just Right.
• Honey Loops.
• Fruit 'n' fibre.
• Start.