Whole Grains and Belly Fat

    

The February issue of the Tufts Health and Nutrition Letter had a front page story on whole grains and belly fat.  They noted that replacing white bread with whole wheat bread and whole grains for refined grains like using brown rice instead of white rice may help you fight your belly fat.  Researchers have looked at the diets of 2,834 men and women participating in the well-known Framingham Heart Study.  They found that those who ate 3 or more servings of whole grains a day and who limited their intake of refined grains to less than 1 serving a day had 10% less belly fat or adipose tissue.  However, those who ate three servings of whole grains, but also ate four or more servings of refined grains, had less of an effect on their belly fat.  Thus, it is not only important to include whole grains in one’s diet, it is important to replace your refined grains with whole grains.