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The Nutrition of Multigrain

Fitday Editor
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To complete a healthy diet plan one should consider the nutrition of multigrain. This grain comes from such things as oats, cracked wheat, and buckwheat. A switch to multigrain products may be your healthiest decision.

What Is Multigrain?

You can find multigrain in a variety of foods, such as bread, oatmeal and cereals. Most of us probably figure it is healthy, but why is it healthy? In order to understand what it is, let's look at one popular food you can find it in...bread. First of all, multigrain is just what it means. More than one grain is used in the baking process. Some multigrain breads may have up to five or more grains within them. What makes multigrain bread multigrain is that it is not enriched and uses whole grains. In some breads, the grain is refined and parts of it have been removed. A whole grain contains the germ, endosperm and bran parts of the grain. The key is to eat multigrain bread with whole grains. So make sure to check the ingredients closely.

Health Benefits

Multigrain foods will be high in complex carbohydrates and protein. Complex carbs are great for energy production, and this can help with exercise and losing weight. They break down slower so they can provide energy over a longer period of time. They can be found in foods in their most natural condition like breads with multiple whole grains. The levels of protein will aid the body in tissue repair and production of antibodies that will help fight sickness or infection.

In addition, they will contain nutrients, fiber and essential minerals like magnesium, copper and iron. Multigrains that contain whole grains will be filled with essential fatty acids, B-vitamins, starch and fiber. Magnesium will help build strong bones and teeth. It will also help with metabolism. Fiber is great in helping the body stay regular and maintaining a healthy colon.

Adding Multigrains to a Diet

Now that you see some of the benefits, it is now time to see how you can fit in these healthy foods to your diet. Multigrains can be added to any meal throughout the day. At breakfast you could start with a multigrain oatmeal with some blueberries mixed in. At lunch you could have a peanut butter and strawberry jam on two slices of multigrain bread. And then at dinner you could have a healthy portion of multigrain rice right next to a chicken breast.

Nutrition Matters

Taste and nutrition must go hand in hand if one is to lead a healthy lifestyle. Multigrain foods have many of the essentials the body needs for daily energy and the building of a strong, healthy body. So next time you reach for a loaf of bread or bag of rice take a look to see how many whole grains it contains. That may be the best decision you make during your grocery shopping errand.

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