We love whole grains, but it's not something we are used to hearing about in the news. Maybe that's why a couple blog posts and some traditional media coverage this week have us pumped up and giddy!
Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health released a study comparing white rice and brown rice consumption in the U.S. to the development of type 2 diabetes. They looked at three study groups and data from 1986 to 2006. They found that the people who ate higher amounts of white rice were more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Also, the people who ate brown rice were less likely to develop the disease. Of course this only shows a correlation, not cause and effect, but it is consistent with other studies.
The study's conclusion is that "Substitution of whole grains, including brown rice, for white rice may lower risk of type 2 diabetes. These data support the recommendation that most carbohydrate intake should come from whole grains rather than refined grains tohelp prevent type 2 diabetes."
Unfortunately, some of the best tasting whole grain choices, whole wheat bread and brown rice, are not foods that the average American grew up eating. We can pat ourselves on the back for eating a sandwich on Great Harvest whole wheat bread and be happy that we found a way to get our whole grains today, but how do we help educate the entire country about the health benefits of whole grains?
