Striving4Zen

Not only is buckwheat not a type of wheat, it is not even technically a "grain" although in many places (including The World's Healthiest Foods book) it is referred to as a grain since it is enjoyed in a similar fashion to true grains. Buckwheat is actually a fruit seed that comes from a plant that is also called beech wheat, as well as "silverhull" and "tartary," and whose genus/species name in Latin is Fagopyrum esculentum. Buckwheat belongs to the Polygonaceae family of plants. Two other well-known members of this family are rhubarb and sorrel. Buckwheat does not contain gluten like wheat does and therefore you can truly count on it to be "wheat-free" in every respect!

Buckwheat makes a great side dish as well as the base for a cold grain salad. Combined with fresh and/dried fruit, nuts, and soymilk, it can also make an energizing breakfast.

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Labels: buckwheat, gluten-free, grains, healthy diet, healthy food

A diet high in red meat is just not good for us. But some people need to eat meat. If you're one of them, make sure you select grass-fed meat (not grain-fed or even worse!).

According to recent studies, grass fed cattle produce meat higher in beta carotene, vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids than meat produced from cattle raised by conventional ranching techniques. Conventional ranching techniques means cows raised in lots and fed mostly corn and processed feed.

According to Michael Pollan's well known book The Omnivore's Dilemma, cows evolved to eat grass and roam around in pastures. When cows eat grass they are leaner animals and produce leaner meat, which translates into healthier protein for us. Corn creates fat marbled meat, but the corn also upsets the cows four stomachs. Which in turn, leaves cattle more prone to infections, hence the increase in antibiotics given to cows. Historically speaking, corn was not the major feed for cows until after WW II, which is relatively recent in the grand scheme of things.

Unfortunately, the label/term grass fed is not currently regulated by the USDA. Ranchers and farmers raising grass fed animals are lobbying hard to have the term regulated. So your best bet is finding a ranch close by that raises grass fed cattle. If you are interested in finding grass fed beef produced close to you - check out Local Harvest.

Thanks FitSugar!

Labels: beef, corn, eating healthy, Fat, grains, grass-fed, healthier, meat, Michael Pollan, organic farms, red meat

Dietary fiber comes from the thick cell wall of plants. It is an indigestible complex carbohydrate. Fiber is divided into two general categories- water soluble and water insoluble.

Labels: fiber, fruit juice, fruits and veggies, grains, healthy diet, insoluble fiber, refined foods, soluble fiber, sugar, Whole Foods, Whole grains, whole wheat

Whole grains or foods made from them contain all the essential parts and naturally-occurring nutrients of the entire grain seed. If the grain has been processed (e.g., cracked, crushed, rolled, extruded, and/or cooked), the food product should deliver approximately the same rich balance of nutrients that are found in the original grain seed.

List of whole grains

The following, when consumed in a form including the bran, germ and endosperm, are examples of generally accepted whole grain foods and flours:

• Amaranth
• Barley
• Buckwheat
• Corn, including whole cornmeal and popcorn
• Millet
• Oats, including oatmeal
• Quinoa
• Rice, both brown rice and colored rice
• Rye
• Sorghum (also called milo)
• Teff
• Triticale
• Wheat, including varieties such as spelt, emmer, farro, einkorn, Kamut®, durum and forms such as bulgur, cracked wheat and wheatberries
• Wild rice

Source

Labels: definition, grains, listicle, nutrition, Whole grains