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| October Health Notes. The Grain Issue. |
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The Great Grains of Fall.
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Fall is the time of year we start feeling the need for more nurture to get our bodies ready for the winter. That used to mean that we had spent the summer packing on a layer of fat from the sugar of summer fruit. This would get us through the cold of winter. But now, with jackets and heaters, we don't need that anymore. What we do need is some nice healthy comfort food. When seasons change it is also time for us to change our food choices to fit with those locally available in the season. We feel better when we are in a natural rhythm with our environment and the foods of the season. One of my absolute favorites for Fall is to use the many great wholegrains and make up some nice nourishing comfort dishes.
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An Evening of TASTE - OCTOBER 25th at 6 pm - 9 pm THE GREAT GRAINS OF FALL AND THE GREAT OLIVE OILS OF STONEHOUSE. STONEHOUSE CALIFORNIA OLIVE OIL and I will of course be there for healthy chats with everyone Millet w/mung beans, cumin and carrots, roasted cauliflower on top Hato Mugi (Job's Tears), brown rice, wild rice, winter squash Herbal marinated kale Forbidden rice pudding with cinnamon, Organic beer |
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Wholegrain is whole. Wholegrain basically means, the grain is still whole, it has not been processed by removing part of the grain. Grains are the seeds of plants. When whole, they include the bran, germ and endosperm; all of which contain valuable nutrients. Wholegrain still contains the fiber. Fiber in your diet assists in elimination of waste and toxins from your intestines. Not to mention, fiber is needed for good digestion. Eating wholegrain helps you balance your mood as well because it increases your feel good hormone; serotonin. You can choose wholegrain as a cooked grain in your dish or as the content in bread. Make sure it says wholegrain, not just wholewheat for example. Brown rice, barley, wild rice, millet and quinoa are probably the most accessible cooked grain out there right now, and great choices. Whole rolled oats or steelcut oats for a hot breakfast cereal like oatmeal is the best choice over the instant stuff. |
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What do the studies say about the health benefits?
Check the labels. Check labels carefully! Foods labelled with the words "multi-grain," "stone-ground," "100% wheat," "cracked wheat," "seven-grain," or "bran" are usually not wholegrain products. Color is also not an indication of a wholegrain. Brown and darker bread does not always mean wholewheat or wholegrain! Some brown bread has brown coloring added to achieve the brown color making us think we are buying healthy! When determining if a packaged food product contains wholegrain or not, look for the word "whole" in the ingredient list. Also look for the "Whole Grain Stamp". A "good source" stamp contains at least 1/2 serving of wholegrains while an "excellent source" contains at least 1 serving of wholegrains.
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Chia Seed You can add and cook it with your grain dishes for extra nutritional value, fiber, and for feeling full. It expands when cooked and turns into a sort of gel. The story goes: "Chia" is the Mayan word for strength and has been a staple food source for the American Native people for centuries. Aztec warriors would eat chia during hunting trips, and the Indians of the Southwest would eat only chia seed mixed with water as they ran from the Colorado River to the Pacific Ocean to trade products.
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