| Average user rating |
 (0 vote) |
|
According to the World Health Organization there are more than 1 billion overweight adults in the world and at least 300 million are clinically obese. In Italy, the rate of obesity has increased by 9% compared to five years ago and now there are around 4 million and 700 obese persons. However, news from America, a country renowned for its quantity of obese persons, brings hope and reiterates some of the themes proposed by the GIFTdiet.
A recent study performed by the University of Pennsylvania and published on the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition seems to prove that a diet based on whole grain cereals helps to reduce the troublesome adipose tissue that plagues men and women the world over. But there's much more: it would also seem to improve the general state of health ((Katcher JI et al, Am J Clin Nutr 2008 Jan;87(1):79-90). Doctor Penny Kris-Etherton, director of the study, declares "This is the first clinical study that has been able to demonstrate that a diet rich in whole grain cereals is able to aid in weight loss and reduce the risk of various chronic illnesses.
"The study, performed on 50 obese among which men and women suffering from diabetes, heart disease, abdominal obesity, hypertension and high blood sugar levels, demonstrated that a diet based on whole grain cereals gives better results in terms of excess fat reduction. But, most of all, inflammation in the blood vessels is reduced, thus lowering the levels of C-reactive Protein in the blood. CRP is a substance that is produced by the liver and then released into the bloodstream. In normal conditions the levels of this substance in the blood are low, but when there is an infection or an inflammatory state they can increase rapidly within a few hours. The combination of being overweight and having a high level of CRP leads to a strong risk of heart attack and stroke.
All of the participants in the study reduced their caloric intake for 12 weeks, but half of them were asked to eat whole grain cereals while the other group consumed refined cereals.
In the end, the average weight loss was between 4 and 5 kilograms for both groups. However, the average level of inflammation was reduced by 38% in the group that consumed whole grain cereals, while the group that ate refined cereals had no change. In addition, the reduction of the level of abdominal fat in the group that ate whole grain cereals was much greater.
But why is it better to eat whole grain cereals like oat flour, whole grain rice and barley than to eat refined cereals like bread and other products made with white flour?
Generally speaking, experts advise us to eat whole grain cereals because they more effectively preserve the nutritional ingredients and fibers contained in cereals. You lose weight more easily because foods that are rich in fiber help to maintain lower levels of blood sugar and improve intestinal transit. What's more, the CRP level in the blood is lowered thanks to the antioxidant nutritional ingredients that are contained in whole grain cereals, but are relatively scarce in refined cereals.
But it's important to remember to read the product label carefully: the percentage of whole grain cereal must be at least 51%.
A product is considered to be whole grain when it is obtained from cereals (wheat, rice, corn, oats, rye, barley, spelt, millet), its original composition has not been altered by way of refining processes, and it contains all of the substances with which Nature provided it at its origin. Unrefined flour has a greater content of protein, B group vitamins, cellulose or "food fiber" and mineral salts.
Pay attention when reading the nutritional information. Products that are defined as "multi cereal" are not always whole grain so it's best to make sure by checking the list of ingredients carefully. By law, the ingredients must be listed in order of quantity, from highest to lowest. Improving your diet starting from breakfast is a great way to start.
|
Food intolerances 
