Healthy Heart Month Includes Whole Grains

February is national Heart Health month and a reminder to all of us about ways we can keep our hearth healthy through diet and exercise.  

For the next few blogs, I am going to focus on each of the food groups and what foods keep our heart healthy and what foods may not be so healthy for you and your family's heart.  And yes, that includes children because believe it or not, unhealthy changes in the heart can begin during childhood.  

Part 2: Healthy Hearts and Grains

Let's continue our discussion GRAINS food group. Grains are foods that are made from rice, wheat, oat and bran (to name a few of the grains). 

Whole grains are important for your diet because they provide you with fiber which helps lower cholesterol.  A build up of cholesterol in the blood stream can clog the arteries in your heart (much like build up in your pipes will eventually impede flow).  So a diet high in fiber is very important.  Grains are naturally rich  in iron and many vitamin B.  Also important for a healthy heart.

Grains are divided into two groups:  refined grains and whole grains.  It is the whole grains that give you the most health benefits because the entire grain kernel is intact where the majority of fiber and vitamins are found.  

Heart Health Tip: To help your heart stay healthy choose whole grain food products.  Look for the words whole and 100% in the title.  

Grains are also very starchy and turn into sugar very quickly when the body breaks it down.  One problem we have with the American diet is that we tend to eat way too much grains that our body actually needs.  So portion control and knowing how much your body actually needs is very important.  

Heart Health Tip: Make half your grains whole grains.  Limit your portion sizes to one ounce, 1/2 cup or 1 slice.  

More Grains Food Group Resources

Understanding the Health Benefits Of The Grains Group

Grains are foods that provide fiber and vitamins and energy. Learn about this important food group and the health benefits of including healthy whole grains in your family's meal plan every day.

Grains Group - How Much Grains Does Your Child And Family Really Need?

How much foods from the grains group does your child need? Learn the amounts of grains that your family members need with this quick reference chart.

Learning About The Grains Group

Learn about this important food group: the grains group. Tips also provided on how to shop for healthy grains in the grocery store.

Parents Guide - List Of Grains

You may hear the terms whole grains and refined grains. Learn the difference between these terms and what foods make up the whole grains versus the refined grains.

List Of Types Of Pastas

Shopping for pasta. Need a complete list of the different types of pasta? Here is a handy reference guide of the six different categories of pasta and the specific pasta that belong in each group.

Guide To Common Portion And Serving Size From The Grains Group

What Counts As A Grains Serving? The grains group is an important food group that provides children with much needed fiber and vitamin Bs for growing a healthy heart and digestive system. Here is a guide to make a healthy serving of grains from the My Plate grains food group.