SEPTEMBER 12, 2007Provided by RealAge.com

Three a Day Does Your Body Good

80% of users found this article helpful.
Oatmeal at breakfast, brown rice at lunch, and a slice of whole-wheat bread at dinner.

If these items made your menu today, you're well on your way to a reduced risk of dying from an inflammatory disease. Three servings of whole grains per day can slash your risk by more than 35 percent. What's an inflammatory disease, you ask?

The Common Thread
Inflammation. It's something that heart disease (know your risk), diabetes (could you have it and not know it?), colitis, rheumatoid arthritis (learn how to reduce flare-ups), and many other conditions have in common. But researchers suspect that the phenols, beneficial plant substances, and vitamins in good-for-you whole grains may thwart the disease-causing oxidative stress that results from inflammation. What's your whole-grain IQ? Find out here.

Also, Fabulous Fiber
Yet another reason to eat more whole grains: They're full of fiber, which can help you feel full longer (so you'll eat less) and can help keep your blood sugar levels steady and your digestive system on track. Are you getting enough? Answer these questions about your typical eating habits to find out.

RealAge Benefit: Choosing whole grains rather than processed grains can make your RealAge 1.2 years younger if you are a man and 2.3 years younger if you are a woman.

'The New Book of Whole Grains: More Than 200 Recipes Featuring Whole Grains' Try It:
Add more whole grains to your diet -- and expand your repertoire of fabulous recipes -- with The New Book of Whole Grains: More Than 200 Recipes Featuring Whole Grains, by Marlene A. Bumgarner.


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