The two most nutritious and fiber-rich parts of a wheat seed are the outside bran layer and the germ (embryo). Highly processed white flour is missing both of these components! These two components of wheat slow digestion and absorption of grains in our system (so that we don’t spike our blood sugars) and also are very nutritious. We should be eating grains that still have these components!
Insulin is our body’s tool for sugar management. The more of these types of foods we eat the faster/more intensely our blood sugars will rise the more insulin we eventually need to pump. The issue here is that insulin promotes the storage of fat so the more we produce the more fat we are going to store! If we get too crazy our pancreas will get really tired and insulin production will stop. When this happens Type II Diabetes sets in.
Processed Foods: Why is white bread white?
The flour taken from wheat is not white so why is white bread white? You know when your whites just aren’t very white anymore so you add a cup of bleach to the washer… they do a similar thing to white bread. Flour mills use chemical bleach such as oxide of nitrogen, chlorine, chloride, nitrosyl and benzoyl peroxide mixed with various chemical salts to make your bread white.
These products don’t sound like they are good for you because they AREN’T! Bleach has some other dangerous side effects other than being poison when combined with flour proteins; it destroys vital wheat germ oil, shortens the flour’s shelf life and nurtures insects. Either way I think we have made a point for choosing 100% whole wheat bread over white bread.
Other Processed Foods
Thus far I have only commented on why white bread is bad but these statements apply to all white refined/processed foods. There are many different types of processed carbohydrates. All have the same effect on the body. Here are more examples of processed foods that contribute to intense spikes in blood sugar:
- White Bread
- White Sugar
- White Pasta
- White Wraps
- White Rice
- White Pizza Crust
- White Rolls
- White Muffins
- White Baked Goods
- White Bagels
- White Potatoes (not bleached but are quickly absorbed within the body leaving you hungry faster and raising insulin levels rapidly).
Replace these foods with whole grains this week. Remove all “white” products from your home. Let yourself feel the difference in the way your body works when using whole grains versus refined carbohydrates.
Eliminate White Sugar and White Flour
So, now you are saying, “if I can’t eat white bread what should I be eating?” When you are choosing your pasta, bread, or wraps you want to make sure the label says 100% Whole Grain. Companies will try to fool you with labeling like ‘whole wheat’ this does not mean the product is 100% Whole Grain.
Your best choice in bread products is always Ezekiel products whether it is bread, wraps or English muffins. These are ancient sprouted grains that digest slowly in the body and do not contain gluten (brands vary so if you have a gluten intolerance take caution). When buying pasta you want to buy brown rice pasta or 100% Whole Grain pasta! There is also brown rice wraps, breads and bagels – more amazing choices. Saying goodbye to white potatoes just means you are saying hello to sweet potatoes and yams! These are jam packed with nutrients and taste amazing!
Don’t think of it as taking away options think of it as opening yourself up to many more healthier options!
Your Task for the Day
Your task for today is to eliminate white flour and white sugar from your diet. You should be consuming only 100% whole grains for the carbohydrate portions of your meals. Always remember to read the labels and look for 100% whole grain. Be careful, processed white flour also goes by the names: “enriched wheat flour” or “wheat flour.” Don’t be fooled! White bread is “dead” bread.
Start by setting a goal for 1 week to eliminate processed carbohydrates. Your energy levels will be more consistent, your digestion will be better, you won’t experience crashes and you will be hooked on whole grains for life!
Water: How are you keeping up with your water intake? Make sure to drink 2L of water today!
P.S. Did you arrive here via Stumbleupon? This tip is number 5 of a 31 part free email course called 31 Tips to a Healthier You on how to improve your health and jumpstart your weight loss one day at a time. Learn more about it by signing up here.
*Please be sure to consult a physician before embarking on any weight loss program. These tips are meant to be part of a healthy lifestyle and are not in any way meant to cure disease.
