5 whole-grain foods you must include in your diet to stay healthy, lose weight – Times Now

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Whole-grains are one of the healthiest foods you can add to your diet

Rich in nutrients and fibre, whole-grains can help keep many diseases at bay

Here are the benefits of including whole grains in your diet, and 5 of the most popular ones you can try

New Delhi: New Delhi: Anyone who undertook their fitness journey may have already brushed up the basics by now, and must know how important it is to eat right in order to lose weight and be healthy. Contrary to popular belief that exercise helps a person lose weight, anyone who has experienced it first hand can vouch for the fact that eating healthily is key to getting in shape and staying healthy.

One of the most popular foods that are talked about when a conversation about fitness or eating healthy happens are whole-grain foods. We often hear/read people, medical professionals, and health blogs talk about the importance of whole-grain foods in our diet.

Why are whole-grain foods important in your diet?

Whole grains, as the name suggests, contain all parts of the grain – the bran, endosperm, and the germ. Whole grains are very healthy, as they not only contain several nutrients, they are also rich in fibre, minerals, protein, and plant compounds.

Apart from helping in weight loss and reducing the risk of obesity, whole grains can help keep your heart healthy, reduce risk of stroke, lower risk of and help in diabetes management, reduce inflammation, and may also help keep chronic diseases such as cancer at bay.

5 whole-grain foods to add to your diet

While there are a variety of whole grains that you can choose from, some of the most popular, widely consumed, and beneficial ones are listed below.

Quinoa – Quinoa is one of the most popular and loved whole grains among weight watchers. Low in calories, and high in nutrients, it can act as a perfect replacement for white rice in most recipes.

Barley – Barley is consumed in many regional parts of the country as staple food, and is a great whole-grain food to add to your diet.

Oatmeal – Oatmeal, prepared in different ways and added to many recipes is a whole-grain popularly consumed in breakfast food. Oats can be added to smoothies, cheelas, and other recipes to increase the nutrient and fibre content of the meal.

Brown rice – Brown rice is a good replacement for white rice, especially for diabetics and weight watchers. While it does contain almost the same calories as white rice, it is high in fibre content, which helps ease digestion and also slows down the release of sugar into the blood.

Buckwheat – Buckwheat is also popularly consumed in many parts of the world. Buckwheat is a versatile ingredient and can be added to many Indian and international recipes.