Studies show that eating whole grains instead of refined grains lowers the
risk of many chronic diseases. While benefits are most pronounced for those
consuming at least 3 servings daily, some studies show reduced risks from as
little as one serving daily. The message: every whole grain in your diet helps!
The main benefits of whole grains
The benefits of whole grains most documented by repeated studies include:
- stroke risk reduced 30-36%
- type 2 diabetes risk reduced 21-30%
- heart disease risk reduced 25-28%
- better weight maintenance
Other benefits indicated by recent studies include:
- reduced risk of asthma
- healthier carotid arteries
- reduction of inflammatory disease risk
- lower risk of colorectal cancer
- healthier blood pressure levels
- less gum disease and tooth loss
© Reproduced with permission of the Whole Grains Council, 2008.