Having trouble trying to decide which grocery products are truly “whole grain”? Product labels may shout whole grains, yet not be truly whole grain. There are two helpful methods for determining whole grain quality:
- Look for the “100% Whole Grain” stamp on the package
- Read the list of ingredients and look for the word “whole” or “whole grains” in the first one to four ingredients
Food packaging can get away with terms such as whole grain or whole wheat without actually meeting the requirements to be an actual recommended serving of whole grain. Then there are many foods which really do contain whole grains and don’t have the 100% Whole Grain Stamp on the labeling. So, if you are shopping for whole grains and don’t see this stamp, be sure to read the list of ingredients before ruling a product in, or out of your whole grain shopping list.
The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, ages 9 and up, recommend 3-5 servings of whole grains each day. Research studies demonstrate whole grains as helpful in the prevention of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer prevention.
