Whole grains boost longevity

Photo and aricle taken from The Week Magazine - July 1, 2016 edition.

At least they are not advocating for white flour... and I suppose wild rice isn't mentioned because it is a seed, rather than a grain. I still find that I am happier without the grains in general... though I did just make some sourdough bread with kefir as the liquid and I ground my own wheat berries in my nutribullet. I also let the dough rise for over 24 hours. I am *hoping* the natural yeast and other microbes digested some of the grains so that it is easier for me to digest if I should indulge in a slice or two with grass fed butter.

Eating whole grains like oats, quinoa, and brown rice can help you live longer, new research suggests. A meta-analysis of 14 long-term studies involving nearly 800,000 men and women found the people who ate three or more servings of whole grains (48 grams) each day had a 20 percent lower risk of dying early than those who ate none, NBCNews .com reports. Having three servings of whole grains per day was also associated with a 25 percent lower risk of death from heart disease and a 14 percent lower risk of death from cancer than just one daily serving. “There are many biological pathways that would explain why whole grains are beneficial,” says study author Qi Sun of Harvard University’s School of Public Health. Unlike white or refined grains that have been milled and stripped of their nutrients, whole grains contain the entire grain kernel, which provides fiber, iron, and several B vitamins. Fiber improves cholesterol levels, helps insulin sensitivity, and promotes satiety—the feeling of being full after eating—which reduces the risk for obesity-related health issues and stroke.