Can Whole Grain Foods Help You Lose Weight?

Though calorie counting will always be an important part of any weight loss diet, we’re now learning that what we eat can be just as important as how much we eat. Choosing the right foods, like whole grains, can help you lose more weight more quickly.

Why you should consider switching to whole grain foods

For years, people thought of all wheat and grain based products as virtually the same. No one really thought of white bread as being less healthy than whole wheat bread.

But, today we understand that eating highly refined carbohydrates are lousy for our bodies, especially if we’re trying to lose weight. One of the simplest things you can do to help speed up weight loss is to switch to whole grains.

Foods that are not made from whole grains, such as white bread and regular pasta, are highly refined. They lack the fiber of whole grain foods. Your body reacts to these white flour foods and highly processed grains just as it does to sugar.

Whole grain foods help avoid spikes in blood sugar levels

When your blood sugar levels spike this causes your body to release insulin. Fat can only be stored by the body when insulin is present, so eating a lot of white flour and simple carbohydrates can make insulin levels spike which in turn can lead to fat storage.

Whole grains, in contrast, are dense and filled with fiber. This fiber fills you up and keeps you feeling full for longer. Because the fiber takes longer to process by your digestive system, it doesn’t cause your blood sugar to rise rapidly. Rather you have a long period of feeling satisfied as well as stable blood sugar levels throughout the day.

The lower blood sugar levels minimizes the production of insulin, making it harder for your body to store fat.

In addition to the fact that whole grains help keep blood sugar stable, they are also helpful to dieters because they keep you feeling full for much longer than processed carbohydrates. Because you feel full, you’re likely to consume fewer calories in a day; further helping your weight loss efforts.

Eliminating sugar and white flour can help you lose the pounds faster

In recent years, we’ve seen many people lose 10, 15 or even 20 pounds without dieting, simply by eliminating sugar and white flour from their diets. They still ate bread, cereal and pasta, but made certain that it was all whole grain.

You may find that eating whole grain foods takes a little getting used to if you’re accustomed to eating a lot of white flour products. Whole grain breads are heartier, thicker and have more substance. You may find whole grain pastas to be a little chewy compared to their white flour counterparts. But, once you’re used to them, you’re likely to find that you appreciate the substance they offer.

So, add a little whole grain to your diet. You might be amazed at how much it helps you reduce hungry cravings, stay fuller longer and also reduce your bodyweight in the process.