It is a popular belief that whole foods are less fattening than refined ones (for example, thinking that whole wheat bread is less fattening than white), but we regret to inform you that this is not the case. Whole foods are no less fattening. So why are they so recommended in healthy diets?
Whole foods provide nutrients that refined foods do not. Therefore, when an ingredient is whole grain it has certain benefits that are unique to whole grain foods. Meet some:
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Whole foods provide fiber, so they improve digestion.
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They balance cholesterol levels.
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They level blood glucose.
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They produce a feeling of satiety.
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Reduces cardiovascular diseases due to its ability to balance cholesterol.
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They provide vitamin E, which is an antioxidant.
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Fiber is a prebiotic, so it improves overall digestive health.
These benefits are typical of whole foods, but not refined ones. For this reason, although they are not less fattening, whole foods are much more nutritious than refined ones.
A food is integral when its cereal grain is whole, that is, when it preserves all its parts (germ, endosperm and bran) at the time of grinding and throughout its treatment. You can recognize them because they are usually darker and rougher to the touch, since refined foods are usually white because the bran and outer husk are removed during processing.
We recommend you prefer whole foods over refined ones so that you can obtain new health benefits through your diet.
Continue with: How much fiber should I eat a day?
Fountain
Graduate Goreti Gastaldi Quintero, clinical nutritionist at Doctoralia