Grains often get a bad rap in today’s diet culture, but whole grains are nutritional powerhouses that offer many health benefits. From fiber and vitamins to minerals and antioxidants, whole grains are crucial in maintaining heart health, managing weight, and supporting digestive health. Incorporating whole grains into your diet can reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Read on to debunk common myths about grains and learn simple ways to make whole grains a delicious part of your daily meals. Embrace the goodness of whole grains and enjoy their benefits to your overall well-being.

Many people set goals for the new year to lose weight, eat healthier, or start the latest trending diet, including lists of foods to cut out or avoid. This year consider an approach different from a temporary diet or short-term program by doing something for more than a few weeks while also improving health and weight.

While there is nothing wrong with a diet for a couple of weeks or 30 days, dietary changes that will positively impact weight and overall health require eating better well past a month of restrictions.

One of the things I hear is that people think that grains are wholly unnecessary in the diet. Lots of things are entirely unnecessary, like wine, potato chips, and caramel. That doesn’t mean that we throw them out entirely unless you are a heretic.

The big difference between the grains and the wine, potato chips, and caramel is their nutrients. Grains, especially whole grains, have a LOT of nutrients and not just “carbs.

Have you set a goal to “eat healthier” and thinking about what foods to stop eating? Shift that mindset and focus on what to add to your diet. Research suggests that depriving yourself of foods, or anything, you want can increase your desire for it. In my more than 20-years’ experience working with clients, I encourage ADDING foods rather than taking them away.