A friend asked me recently, “So do Cheerios reduce cholesterol because if you’re eating the Cheerios for breakfast then you’re not eating eggs or bacon?.” I laughed at the question and thought it was silly and naïve but realized that for people not trained in cholesterol health his statement makes a lot of sense. And to tell you the truth, in part, he is correct – don’t eat an egg for breakfast and have Cheerios instead and chances are you may reduce your cholesterol. However, there is a common question set on the Wonderlic Intelligence Test – Assume the first two statements are true, and the final statement is either True, False, or Not Certain. So let’s put it to the test.
Joe ate Cheerios for breakfast, Cheerios lower cholesterol. Joe didn’t eat eggs for breakfast, eggs raise cholesterol. Therefore, Joe must have lowered his cholesterol.
Is this True, False or Not Certain?
The answer is Not Certain, but that’s not to say the above statement is necessarily false. Cheerios can help lower cholesterol, but why? Because they contain whole grain oats, and although this is widely known it seems that since the FDA approved items with whole grain oats to advertise as such (cholesterol lowering) does the common person know why whole grains are of benefit? Let’s take a look.
Whole grains contain all three parts of the grain kernel: bran, germ, and endosperm. Within each of these three parts are various vitamins (B and E), minerals, protein, phytonutrients and carbohydrates. The problem is that most grains are processed so thoroughly they are stripped of most of their goodness. Think of it this way, each time you wash your new white dress shirt it loses a little bit of its crispness until finally it doesn’t look so new anymore, it just looks like another faded and worn white shirt.
The exact mechanism of action for whole grains effect on lowering cholesterol is not exactly certain however, the basic understandings of fiber is a good beginning. Bran and fiber slow the digestion of glucose and also make it more difficult for starches to be turned into glucose; thus, decreasing the glucose peaks in the blood after meals. Also, fiber helps to clear the digestive tract, removing the harmful substances that would otherwise build up and create barriers and toxins throughout the body. There is also evidence that fiber may increase the body’s natural ability to create anticoagulants, resulting in deceased formation of blood clots. So if you do eat an egg for breakfast, the whole grains will help push all the crud in the egg out of your system. But don’t get carried away, the actions of the whole grains are meant to work with you in combination with a good diet low in cholesterol, not work for you trying to fight against the bad diet!
So why not use whole grains all around? Obviously, you’ve noticed the difference in taste. White flour (or processed flour, stripped of some 80% of the benefits) tastes great in baked goods because it has been ridden of the tough healthy layer of bran and fiber to just the fluffy layer of carbohydrates. Paula Cole had a song, “Where have all the cowboys gone?” and chances are they turned into men with soft hands, not working for their food. In the late 1800’s industrialized roller mills made it possible to break down the whole grains for foods to be easier to chew, digest and store. But taking the path of least resistance rarely works and it’s true in the human body as well. Without the body working to digest the grains it was easier to absorb more amounts at a quicker rate, resulting in high carb splurges and quick glucose absorption. Thus creating the modern man, soft hands and thick arteries.
So when you’re eating your grains you can think of your Grandma, because she was around when men were men, your closest attachment to the cowboys that Paula Cole sang about. My Grandma didn’t use that processed instant oatmeal, she used the real deal and you should too. Mix a batch on the stove and you’ll be satisfied, I guarantee. While on the stove mix a batch of popcorn as well. Yes, that’s right, no microwave at Grandma’s house, mine did hers on a pan with some oil, not butter and popcorn is as whole grain as it gets.
So eat your Cheerios, they’re good for you – but if you really want to boost your whole grain fiber intake go with my favorite – Trader Joe’s O’s.
http://www.cheerios.com/
Joe ate Cheerios for breakfast, Cheerios lower cholesterol. Joe didn’t eat eggs for breakfast, eggs raise cholesterol. Therefore, Joe must have lowered his cholesterol.
Is this True, False or Not Certain?
The answer is Not Certain, but that’s not to say the above statement is necessarily false. Cheerios can help lower cholesterol, but why? Because they contain whole grain oats, and although this is widely known it seems that since the FDA approved items with whole grain oats to advertise as such (cholesterol lowering) does the common person know why whole grains are of benefit? Let’s take a look.
Whole grains contain all three parts of the grain kernel: bran, germ, and endosperm. Within each of these three parts are various vitamins (B and E), minerals, protein, phytonutrients and carbohydrates. The problem is that most grains are processed so thoroughly they are stripped of most of their goodness. Think of it this way, each time you wash your new white dress shirt it loses a little bit of its crispness until finally it doesn’t look so new anymore, it just looks like another faded and worn white shirt.
The exact mechanism of action for whole grains effect on lowering cholesterol is not exactly certain however, the basic understandings of fiber is a good beginning. Bran and fiber slow the digestion of glucose and also make it more difficult for starches to be turned into glucose; thus, decreasing the glucose peaks in the blood after meals. Also, fiber helps to clear the digestive tract, removing the harmful substances that would otherwise build up and create barriers and toxins throughout the body. There is also evidence that fiber may increase the body’s natural ability to create anticoagulants, resulting in deceased formation of blood clots. So if you do eat an egg for breakfast, the whole grains will help push all the crud in the egg out of your system. But don’t get carried away, the actions of the whole grains are meant to work with you in combination with a good diet low in cholesterol, not work for you trying to fight against the bad diet!
So why not use whole grains all around? Obviously, you’ve noticed the difference in taste. White flour (or processed flour, stripped of some 80% of the benefits) tastes great in baked goods because it has been ridden of the tough healthy layer of bran and fiber to just the fluffy layer of carbohydrates. Paula Cole had a song, “Where have all the cowboys gone?” and chances are they turned into men with soft hands, not working for their food. In the late 1800’s industrialized roller mills made it possible to break down the whole grains for foods to be easier to chew, digest and store. But taking the path of least resistance rarely works and it’s true in the human body as well. Without the body working to digest the grains it was easier to absorb more amounts at a quicker rate, resulting in high carb splurges and quick glucose absorption. Thus creating the modern man, soft hands and thick arteries.
So when you’re eating your grains you can think of your Grandma, because she was around when men were men, your closest attachment to the cowboys that Paula Cole sang about. My Grandma didn’t use that processed instant oatmeal, she used the real deal and you should too. Mix a batch on the stove and you’ll be satisfied, I guarantee. While on the stove mix a batch of popcorn as well. Yes, that’s right, no microwave at Grandma’s house, mine did hers on a pan with some oil, not butter and popcorn is as whole grain as it gets.
So eat your Cheerios, they’re good for you – but if you really want to boost your whole grain fiber intake go with my favorite – Trader Joe’s O’s.
http://www.cheerios.com/
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