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Dr Russ Blog - Could whole grains help us lose weight, too?
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Could whole grains help us lose weight, too?
Created on 4/29/2008
A study published earlier this year brought to light additional benefits associated with eating a diet high in whole grains. Participants in the 12-week study were obese and had been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (typically defined as the presence of excess abdominal fat together with high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high triglyceride levels and low HDL cholesterol). Each woman and man was to adhere to a diet lowered by 500 calories / day from their norm and received similar dietary advice, but half the group ate mainly highly refined carbohydrates, while the other half got their daily grains from only whole grain foods. At trial’s end both groups had lost weight, decreased body fat and lost inches off their waist circumference, but those in the whole grains group experienced significantly more body fat loss in the abdominal region (lessened waist circumference). In addition, blood tests in the whole grains group revealed a lower level of inflammation in the body compared with those who largely avoided whole grains during the trial.
People with the metabolic syndrome are at increased risk for developing heart disease and diabetes. It’s also known that an increased waist circumference can signal an increased risk for heart disease (recommendations are for women to keep their waist circumference below 36 inches, men below 40 inches). In addition, it appears that inflammation is one of the main factors in the development of heart disease, so anything we can do to lessen inflammation in the body is good for us.
Whole grains offer the potential for many health benefits. Now we can add to the list healthy weight loss that benefits our hearts in unique ways.
Share your thoughts on whole grains and weight management with us, and click on yourwellness to learn about tasty high fiber menu items, and to view delicious high fiber recipes.
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