Why eat wholemeal when on a diet?

The recommended healthy daily intake of fibre is 18g a day. Fibre are required for a healthy digestive system and to help lower our risk of conditions such as constipation, haemorrhoids, diverticular disease and perhaps even bowel cancer.

Food	Fiber Content in Grams
Whole wheat bread, 1 slice	2
Brown rice, 1 cup	3.5
Strawberries, 1 cup	3.82
Blueberries, 1 cup	3.92
Banana, 1 medium	4
Orange, 1 large	4.42
Corn, 1 cup	4.6
Apple, 1 medium with skin	5
Pear, 1 large	5.02
Whole wheat spaghetti, 1 cup	6.3
Raspberries, 1 cup	8.36

The health benefits of wheat depend entirely on the form in which you eat it.

Wholegrain – typically found in high carb foods like wholegrain cereal, wholemeal pasta, brown rice and oats – have a number of health benefits, including keeping our heart and digestive system healthy and helping us control our weight and blood sugar levels.

If you select 100% wholemeal products, the bran and the germ of the wheat will remain in your meals, and the health benefits will be impressive! Wholemeal is a very good source of dietary fiber and manganese, and a good source of magnesium.

Consuming Wholemeal products fits with the Mediterranean diet approach to health, which looks to lower overall carbs but higher whole grains, including whole wheat.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition underscores the importance of choosing whole rather than refined wheat to maintain a healthy body weight.

The study reveals that not only did women who consumed more whole grains consistently weigh less than those who ate less of these fiber-rich foods, but those consuming the most dietary fiber from whole grains were 49% less likely to gain weight compared to those eating foods made from refined grains.

Personally, I decided to switch to brown rice and wholemeal pasta when I started my diet. They taste a little different which is also a nice change!