6 Whole Grains To Try

SPECIAL FROM Next Avenue By Maureen Callahan Including plenty of whole grains in your diet puts you at lower risk for diabetes, heart disease and certain kinds of cancer. Studies show it also can help trim belly fat and make statin drugs (that lower cholesterol) more effective. Yet, most Americans are lucky if they eat one whole grain serving a day. And that’s too bad. There’s a big wide world of healthy whole grains, each with distinct flavors and health benefits for the fiftysomething years. We’re not talking about oatmeal, popcorn or ever-popular quinoa. Here are six lesser-known whole grains showing up on restaurant menus and in most large supermarkets, with tips on easy ways to add them to your menu: Farro (a/k/a emmer) Used in parts of Italy to make special soups and pastas, this ancient variety of wheat has recently hit U.S. supermarket shelves and restaurant menus. Its nutty flavor and chewy texture (farro looks like other varieties of wheat berries) make it versatile for salads, soups and side dishes. For the holidays, try this healthier farro stuffing recipe from Cooking Light. Cooking tips: Soaking the berries in water overnight cuts cooking time from 45 minutes to under 25 minutes. Teff Holding with the rule that good things come in small packages, this tiny brown Ethiopian whole grain — about the size of a poppy seed — carries a huge nutritional wallop. Count on it to deliver rich amounts of protein, fiber, zinc, iron and magnesium, like oth...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news