Whole Grains for a Healthier Heart

New research suggests people who regularly eat whole grains instead of refined grains take in less of a body fat called VAT, a fat linked to a higher risk for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.  Researchers published an analysis of dietary surveys and body-fat scans of more than 2,800 men and women between the ages of 32 and 83 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  They found that eating several servings of whole grains a day is associated with lower amounts of VAT.

However, those who ate whole grains without giving up refined grains did not seem to benefit from the whole grain-lower VAT connection, so it’s important to make substitutions in the diet, rather than simply adding whole grain foods.

Not sure how to add whole grain and eliminate refined grain in your diet? Ask a caregiver from your preferred providers of home health care in Wellington, Aker Kasten Home Health, to help you read the labels as you grocery shop together and to use whole grains when preparing your meals. You’ll soon be on your way to a healthier heart!

Whole grains are filled with nutrients such as B vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.   They also provide a feeling of fullness!  An easy way to add whole grain is to substitute half the white flour with whole wheat flour in your regular recipes for cookies, muffins, or pancakes.

whole grains chart

Call Aker Kasten Home Health Care, one of the top providers of home health care in Wellington, today at 561-955-6010 to ask for a FREE handout on Whole Grains. * For a full list of all of the communities we serve, please visit our Service Areas page. 

* prepared by Kansas State University’s Family Nutrition Program. Adapted from article What’s New by Jonathon Jarashow