Coronavirus (COVID-19) UPDATES Click Here The Importance of Whole Grains Home > About Us > Our Blog > 2017 > March > 9 > The Importance of Whole Grains March 9, 2017 Laura Speranzi, WIC Nutritionist Issues | Share This Post: This week's edition of National Nutrition Month is from Laura Speranzi, a WIC Nutritionist at Whitney Young Health. Laura is putting the spotlight on whole grains and how they are an important component to maintaining a healthy diet. (Grain bowls image credit: Vegan Liftz). You keep hearing about eating more whole grains…so what is a whole grain? It is a cereal grain that contains the germ, endosperm and bran. The bran is a multi-layered skin on the outside of the kernel. The germ is the embryo which has the potential to sprout new plants. The endosperm is the biggest part of the kernel and it is the germ’s food source. It provides energy to the plant so it can send roots down for essential water and nutrients. Why should I eat whole grains? Whole grains are a packed with nutrients! Nutrients including dietary fiber, protein, fiber, B vitamins, Iron, antioxidants, and trace minerals. B vitamins are important in bodily functions. Iron is used to carry oxygen in the blood. Magnesium is a mineral that is involved in more than 300 processes in the body. Selenium is important for regulating thyroid hormone action and a healthy immune system. Dietary fiber can help you feel full and may lead to weight loss! Dietary fiber may help improve your blood cholesterol levels and lower the risk for obesity, stroke, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. How do I know what foods are whole grain? Choose whole grain foods that contain one of the following ingredients first on the label’s ingredient list: Whole wheat Oatmeal Whole oats Brown rice Wild rice Whole- grain corn Whole- wheat barley Whole-wheat bulgur popcorn All of these foods can be found in your local grocery stores, which makes it easy to add these healthy options into your daily diet! 4 Comments Leave a Reply Name * Email * (Your email will not be publicly displayed.) Comment Please type the letters and numbers shown in the image. Click the image to see another captcha. ARCHIVE October 2021 September 2021 May 2021 April 2021 February 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 March 2015 CATEGORIES events news TAGS #blm 2020 50th anniversary aca affordable care act albany albany county april 2020 award winners black communities black history month black lives matter books coronavirus covid-19 dan bazile donations equinox, inc. events first responders health health disparities healthcare inequality history in the news issues legacy event maria college masks may 2021 mental health merger proposal mobile health unit national health center week news newsletter pandemic people of color primary care protesters safe @ whitney safety spectrum news students swinburne building testing times union times union center to your health vaccine walk-up testing watervliet whitney on wheels whitney young health winter CONTACTS 920 Lark Drive, Albany, NY 12207 518-465-4771 info@wmyhealth.org Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Follow Us on LinkedIn Follow Us on Instagram FREQUENTLY USED FORMS WYH Patient Welcome Packet 2020 Updated.pdf Registration Form-Fillable School-Based Health Center Registration Whitney on Wheels-CHILD Registration Form Dental Services Medical History Advance Directive Forms Guest Dosing Form Sliding Fee Scale Discount Application Travel Immunizations Packet WIC Forms COMMON LINKS Board Portal Careers Directions & Hours Donate Employee Portal Forms Services NEWSLETTER SIGNUP WYH MISSION Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center's Mission is to provide access to consistent quality healthcare without regard to income. © 2021 Whitney M Young Health Website by Web Instinct Home Sitemap Contact Us