The "Whole Grain" movement?

Agree completely. I used to eat a few bowls of high-fiber low-sugar "whole grain" cereal every morning... and that kept me fat.

I've been eating whole grains for about 12 years. It's worked great for me. I'm 47 with a BMI of 21.
(and grains are a TINY TINY part of my diet.)

I try to eat WHOLE unprocessed foods. My GRAINS are WHOLE as well.

But yes, now it's a marketing schtick.

100% agree.

I can easily make fat and sugar laden baked goods with whole grain.

(not that I think fat makes you fat, but you get my point)

I believe a lot is to do with how much it's processed?

I agree that it doesn't make it automatically healthy and that we should still be aware of the actual nutrition labels and not just what they put on the front of the box to lure us in.

It is about how much it is processed. Whole wheat flour is healthier than white flour because it includes all parts of the wheat, it hasn't been bleached. It has the natural vitamins and minerals still in it, instead of needing to be fortified with them. Just like steel cut oats are better than quick oats. The less processed a grain is, the healthier it is.

Just because something is whole grain doesn't automatically make it wonderful for you, however foods with whole grain (as opposed to more processed grains) are better for you. A quick google search will uncover a wealth of sources - but here are a few:

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/health-gains-from-whole-grains/
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=66
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/whole-grains/NU00204
http://kidshealth.org/teen/expert/nutrition/whole_grain_bread.html

A good summary from the last link:

Whole grains contain all parts of the grain kernel. But refined grains, like the flour used to make white bread, have had the fiber-dense bran and the nutrient-rich germ processed out, leaving only the starchy endosperm. This means that refined grain is not as rich in essential fatty acids, vitamin E, magnesium, and zinc.

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I once saw a white bread that was labelled "whole grain". LOL.

The way I see it- whole grain is better is highly refined/stripped of nutrients type stuff but not the ultimate sign of a healthy product.

Personally I'd go with sprouted grain if I were to eat bread or bagels or something.

I use to eat Silver Hills bread (Canadian product, don't know if it's available in the US) but for one bagel it was 250 calories, 16g of protein, 10g of fiber and made of Organic whole sprouted wheat*, vital wheat gluten, raisin nectar (raisins, water), sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, water, yeast, sea salt, cultured wheat, citric acid.

I'd take that over Dempsters which has 240 calories, 9 g of protein, 5g of fiber and made of this : Whole grain whole wheat flour including the germ, water, sugar/glucose-fructose, whole grain rye, cornmeal, salt, vegetable oil (canola or soybean), *yeast, malted barley flour, wheat gluten, calcium propionate, monoglycerides, sorbic acid. May contain potassium sorbate. *order may change. May contain soybean, egg, sesame seeds, milk ingredients and sulphites. [K925]

The Silver Hills one is also 10g less in a serving size!

I should add, I think ultimately whole grains are good but I think the term is now used to promote products that still have little nutritional value for what they are. I think you have to be diligent about reading labels involving whole grain products to make sure they don't have fillers and surprises like extra sugar or sodium in them.

Like anything, you have to use a little bit of common sense when evaluating labels. Whole grain refers to the fact that the fiberous portion of the grain has not been removed. If you are talking about bread, whole grain typically has more fiber than something that is made from white flour or refined wheat flour. The fiber does affect the speed at which your body digests the product. More fiber typically results in better glycemic control. So no, its not a crock, but you do have to look at the ingredients and nutritional facts to make sure that you are actually buying whole grains because producers can use that word on their package regardless of how many (if any) whole grains their product actually contains.

Popcorn kernels would be considered a whole grain, but I've never seen them make that claim.

http://www.safetinspector.com/index.php/2008/04/100-percent-whole-grain-popcorn/

I also think the new thing now is stone ground whole grain. That's super hardcore! You could even be more devoted and get organic as well. Bonus points if its local. Best bread ever! Funny how words have such powerful meanings.

I think it's just like "low-fat" used to be. It's a marketing tactic. Personally, I don't care what any label on the package says except the nutrition and ingredients.

This is spot on. They are just trying to fool busy people into thinking that something processed and sugary is actually good for you.

Some of those cereals are lying, or bending the truth. They will tout "whole grain" and then only have 1 g of fiber per serving. You would get more fiber by cutting up a strawberry and putting it on top of rice crispies than eating some of these "whole grain" cereals.

I get my whole grains in my beer once a week. Just do not think processed grains would taste very good :laugh: :drinker:

I can't digest whole grains. I wish I could find the information. But something about the outside of the grain been indigestible and irritating to the colon?
Also with whole meal flour its just white flour with the discarded bit thrown back in :S
Steel cut oats definitely better.

Here's what people need to do:

Listen to everything the commercials and ad campaigns tell you, then THROW IT OUT THE WINDOW.

Educate yourself on what you're eating and where you want to be healthwise. Every company wants you to think their food is best, and they will outright lie or mislead you as much as they possibly can to help that bottom line. The only person on your side is YOU. Remember trans fats? I will always be thankful to my mom that she cut those out of our diets 4 years before anyone made a stink about it.

I'm sure martini's had nothing to do with that

You're right, it didn't.

Strangely, I didn't drink martinis when I was heavy - only really picked them up in the last few years, while I was losing weight.