eden prairie gym

Which Type of Bread is Healthiest ... and Which is SUPRISINGLY Least Healthy?

Which Type of Bread is Healthiest … and Which is SUPRISINGLY Least Healthy?

Published by on July 18, 2012 | 13 Responses

We know what you’re thinking.

Everyone knows that whole wheat breads are the best and white bread is the worst. Where’s the news there?
Well, prepare to be surprised.

There’s good news for those who despise wheat bread … sourdough may be better.

A new study set to be published in the British Journal of Nutrition has actually blown the theory that we should all be making our sandwiches and toast out of whole wheat to pieces.

Professor Terry Graham, a carb scientist at the University of Guelph, examined how people respond to different types of bread after eating them for breakfast and lunch. The breads included were:
• White
• Whole wheat
• Whole wheat with barley
• Sourdough white bread
All of the participants in the study were overweight men between 50 and 60 years old. Which bread was most beneficial?
Sourdough.
After eating sourdough bread the men had the most positive body responses, including lower blood sugar levels. The worst bread turned out to be not white, but whole wheat. Whole-wheat bread caused spikes in blood sugar levels that continued until well after lunch. Even the whole wheat plus barley bread was worse than the white.
Why Might Sourdough be Healthier Than Whole Wheat?
Sourdough bread undergoes a fermentation process that may alter its starches, making them healthier. Whole wheat bread, meanwhile, undergoes a similar refining process as white bread. Its healthy components like wheat germ and bran are removed and only partially put back in, making whole-wheat bread far less healthy than most people assume it to be.  In fact, many whole-wheat breads are still made with mostly white flour.

How to Identify Healthy Breads
Keep in mind that this study did not evaluate any breads made with whole grains, the all-star when it comes to healthy breads. Whole wheat and whole grain are two entirely different things.
Research is revealing that whole grains are the best choice when choosing your bread. To distinguish true whole-grain breads from imposters:
• Read the label. Whole-grain breads will say “100% whole grain.” You can also look for the 100% Whole Grain stamp.
• Pick them up. Bread made from whole grains will feel heavy and dense compared to refined-grain breads, which tend to be light, soft and fluffy.
• Consider grains other than wheat. Spelt, amaranth, rye and others are also used to make whole-grain breads that often have superior health benefits to wheat. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, for instance, found that wheat bread triggers a greater insulin response than rye bread.
With all of the carb-hating going on in recent years, this news will come as a welcome surprise to many Americans; this is one time when you really can have your “bread” and eat it to.
Courtesy of SxWise.com via www.altmanfitness.com

Posted in , , , , Tagged , , , , , , ,

5 Powerful Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Healthy

Published by on July 10, 2012 | Leave a response

With childhood obesity and other childhood disorders on the rise, everyone from doctors to teachers to parents are seeking solutions for better health for kids. At the most basic level, everyone can agree that all kids can benefit from eating healthier.
Did you know that childhood obesity has tripled over the past 30 years?
That being said, with all of the glitzy candy and process foods competing for your kids’ attention, how do you get them to eat healthy meals? Over the years, we have found many solutions, but we also salute the creative Altman Fitness parents who have shared their tips for making healthy food for their kids.

 

Here are 5 powerful ways to get your kids to eat healthy:


1. Change up old favorites. Think about the foods your kids love, and make something that tastes and looks similar – with different healthy ingredients. Altman Fitness parent Molly Nolski’s teenage daughter, Caroline, made her favorite coffee cake by substituting butter with ghee, processed flour with quinoa flour, and sugar with Stevia.
2. Be creative. Try some of the clever “tricks” used by advertisers to make new foods sound exciting to your kids. One ingenious Altman Fitness mom made pasta out of zucchini and called them “good luck noodles” because of their green color. Let’s face it, kids tend to gravitate toward fun wrappings and funny names on packaged foods, so if you are making pumpkin soup, you might call it “Halloween Pumpkin Soup” to catch their interest.
3. Take your time. If your kids are used to eating candy and chips, it may take time to get their taste buds to acclimate to healthy food for kids – especially those with a sour taste, like fermented foods and beverages. Instead of rushing it, remember the Step By Step Principle: take it slow and build over time. Trust that every small step you take toward healthy eating will have big rewards over a lifetime! Add some new foods into those “old favorites” a little at a time, and see what happens. One clever Altman Fitness parent, Nicole Beglesdorf, added one teaspoon of Young Coconut Kefir to her daughter Alexis’ regular “junky” juice and continued to increase the amount until he was drinking one to two cups of Young Coconut Kefir per day! (And loving it, by the way.) Soon juice wasn’t even needed.

4. Arm yourself with easy healthy recipes. Gather up some easy healthy recipes and experiment until you find the ones your kids take a liking to. Make small amounts and have “taste tests” with your kids, giving an award to the recipes your kids like the best. Remember to keep a go-to file with all of the “award winners” on hand!
5. Keep it simple and fun! Changing habits and making meals can feel daunting when they are complicated and require too many steps. Focus on keeping it simple.  Focus on picking the easiest  and  simplest meals, and one meal per day to begin.  Then build from there to build your healthy family for years to come.   Above all, keep it simple, yummy and fun!

 

Committed to your health

 

Jay Altman

www.altmanfitness.com

Posted in Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,