Whole grains and blood pressure control

by | Nov 17, 2018 | Elite Weight Loss Blog, FOOD MODIFICATION/DIETS, Health and wellness | 0 comments

WHOLE GRAINS AND BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL

WHAT’S THE RELATION?

Whole grains are an important part of a healthy diet. Eating more whole-grain foods regularly also may reduce your chance of developing high blood pressure.

And if you already have high blood pressure, eating more whole-grain foods may help lower your blood pressure. Learn more from Dr. Sheldon Sheps, an emeritus Mayo Clinic hypertension and peripheral vascular diseases specialist.

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What foods are in the Grains Group?

Any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley or another cereal grain is a grain product. Bread, pasta, oatmeal, breakfast cereals, tortillas, and grits are examples of grain products.
Grains are divided into 2 subgroups, Whole Grains and Refined Grains. Whole grains contain the entire grain kernel ― the bran, germ, and endosperm. Examples of whole grains include whole-wheat flour, bulgur (cracked wheat), oatmeal, whole cornmeal, and brown rice. Refined grains have been milled, a process that removes the bran and germ. This is done to give grains a finer texture and improve their shelf life, but it also removes dietary fiber, iron, and many B vitamins. Some examples of refined grain products are white flour, de-germed cornmeal, white bread, and white rice.
Most refined grains are enriched. This means certain B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid) and iron are added back after processing. Fiber is not added back to enriched grains. Check the ingredient list on refined grain products to make sure that the word “enriched” is included in the grain name. Some food products are made from mixtures of whole grains and refined grains.

How many grain foods are needed daily?

The amount of grains you need to eat depends on your age, sex, and level of physical activity. Recommended daily amounts are listed in this table below. Most Americans consume enough grains, but few are whole grains. At least half of all the grains eaten should be whole grains. 

Note: Click on the top row to expand the table. If you are on a mobile device, you may need to turn your phone to see the full table.

What counts as an ounce-equivalent of grains?
In general, 1 slice of bread, 1 cup of ready-to-eat cereal, or ½ cup of cooked rice, cooked pasta, or cooked cereal can be considered as 1 ounce-equivalent from the Grains Group. The table below lists specific amounts that count as 1 ounce-equivalent of grains towards your daily recommended intake. In some cases the number of ounce-equivalents for common portions are also shown.
*WG = whole grains, RG = refined grains. This is shown when products are available both in whole grain and refined grain forms.

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Consumer Health: Whole grains and blood pressure control — what’s the connection? – Mayo Clinic News Network #VitaminC #MayoClinic

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This information does not replace the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. Weight loss results may vary. Results can vary due to activity levels, calories consumed, proper supplement use and water consumption. These statements have not been approved by the Food & Drug Administration.