Nutrition and the Healthy Kids Initiative

Eating whole grains gives your body extra antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals. According to the Whole Grains Council, adults and most school children should eat at least three servings of whole grains daily!

Whole grains slow down the conversion of complex carbohydrates into sugar, helping to reduce hunger and control weight. Whole grains are low on the Glycemic Index, which measures the rate at which carbohydrates break down into sugar once they are eaten.

Thanks to the phytochemicals and antioxidants in whole grains, people who eat three daily servings have been shown to reduce their risk of heart disease by 25-36%, stroke by 37%, Type II diabetes by 21-27%, digestive system cancers by 21-43%, and hormone-related cancers by 10-40%. Adding whole grains to your diet will help to lower your risk of chronic diseases and illnesses such as:

• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Inflammatory diseases
• Cancer
• High blood pressure
• Obesity and weight management
• Cholesterol
• Asthma

* Source: The Whole Grains Council