You Can Have Your BREAD, and Eat it, Too!

Well, my recent experiences remind me I don't always make the right choices, so today I defer to Dr. Oz and the people at Real Age.com for some great advice on reducing belly fat...something MANY (especially those of us in our middle years) are aiming to do.  When choosing grains, opt for the WHOLE ones.  They are not only heart-healthy and disease-defying, but in recent studies of close to 3,ooo men and women, there was a strong correlation between belly fat and grain choice.  Those that opted for whole grains as opposed to refined grains, not only had less belly fat, but also smaller waists.  Researchers think that 3 servings of whole grain a day is a good goal.  Steel cut oats are a great source of whole grain.  When looking for bread find a loaf that is high in fiber, which aids in keeping your appetite at bay.  Whole grains also contain a lot of magnesium which is good for keeping insulin steady as opposed to spiking and falling.  It is very important to understand that whole grains have these fat-curbing effects only when combined with a low intake of refined grains.  This means you cant eat oats for breakfast and white bread at lunch---you have to think whole grain at every meal. I buy a whole grain, fresh baked bread at Publix which has no animal products.  Last night it accompanied a salad and grilled veggies--with some homemade flavored olive oil, it was a perfect dinner, filled with lots of grains and fiber and great company.

In my effort to restore balance to my day to day life, I will be probably leave blogging till a time of the day that it can be my priority.  Though I love arising and getting in touch with all of you, it sometimes takes away from time I could be spending with those closest to me, up close and personal.  But I'll be checking in at some point of the day and continuing our journey together towards better peaceandfitness.

Get yourself some WHOLE grains and maybe that belly fat will start to disappear.  CARBS are NOT THE ENEMY!!!  Just make sure the carbs you consume are going to help your health and your weight.  Get rid of the crap that is void of nutrition, void of fiber, void of most EVERYTHING and start consuming the ones that will help you towards your goals.  As an FYI, most breads you buy off the shelf can't hold a torch to a fresh, baked, whole grain loaf.  Consider this when you do your next grocery shop.  In my opinion, there aren't many foods that come close to how satisfying a good piece of freshly baked grainy bread is!  You can have your bread, and eat it, too!