Eating Whole Grains May Save Your Life and Your Health

I was recently reading a very interesting article in the USA Weekend, dated August 10-12, 2007. It was talking about how popcorn can help save your life. Popcorn, yes, popcorn. You see, popcorn is a whole grain. It pointed out that a study has found that "women over age 55 who eat the most whole grains are 35% less apt to die of an array of inflammatory diseases." The diseases included such things as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Crohn's disease, emphysema, gout, infections, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis.

The study revealed that a person would need to eat "at least 11 servings of whole grains a week" to receive the most protection against such inflammatory diseases. Whole grains can cover a wide variety of foods like popcorn, oats and oatmeal, barley, buckwheat, whole-wheat kernels, brown rice, wild rice, bulgur wheat, kasha, cracked wheat, quinoa, and various whole-grain cereals.

The article was written by Jean Carper in the EatSmart section of USA Weekend. She always seems to have very interesting articles on health and nutrition. Check her out.