In recent years, with the increasing concern about health, whole grains have been highly regarded as a nutritious food. However, WHO experts recently published the results of a shocking study, pointing out that there are two kinds of coarse grains that are forbidden to be eaten, otherwise they will cause the blood vessels to become stiffer and harder, posing a serious threat to human health.
First, let's understand what whole grains are. Coarse grains refer to unrefined grains such as brown rice, whole wheat flour, oats, etc. Compared to refined grains, whole grains retain more fiber, vitamins and minerals, which has many health benefits. However, WHO experts have found that there are two types of coarse grains that have a negative impact on vascular health.
The first type of coarse grains that are prohibited from eating are high-starch coarse grains, such as high-starch corn, high-starch wheat, etc. These whole grains are high in starch, and too much of them can lead to an increase in blood sugar, which can lead to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Long-term consumption of high-starch whole grains will damage the inner wall of blood vessels, forming atherosclerosis, leading to hardening of blood vessels and increasing the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
The second type of coarse grains that are forbidden to be eaten are coarse grains rich in glutamate, such as high-glutamate corn, high-glutamate wheat, etc. Glutamate is an amino acid that can be converted into monosodium glutamate in the body, and excess monosodium glutamate can cause high blood pressure. Studies have found that long-term consumption of glutamate-rich whole grains can lead to the proliferation of muscle cells in the blood vessel wall and the hardening of blood vessels, which in turn increases the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
In the face of this research, how should we adjust our eating habits? First of all, we should avoid excessive intake of high-starchy whole grains. Although high-starch whole grains can provide energy to some extent, excessive intake can lead to an increase in blood sugar and increase the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. A moderate intake of low-starch whole grains, such as brown rice and whole wheat flour, can better protect the health of blood vessels.
Second, we should reduce our intake of glutamate-rich whole grains. Although glutamate is an essential amino acid, excessive intake can negatively affect vascular health. We can choose some whole grains rich in other amino acids, such as lysine-rich oats, threonine-rich barley, etc., to replace glutamate-rich whole grains.
In addition, we should also pay attention to the way whole grains are cooked. Studies have found that overheating whole grains destroys the nutrients in them, reducing their protective effect on vascular health. Therefore, we should choose appropriate cooking methods, such as steaming, boiling, etc., to retain the nutrients of whole grains.
In short, the results of the study jointly published by WHO experts remind us that more coarse grains are not better, and there are two kinds of coarse grains that are forbidden to be eaten, otherwise the blood vessels will become harder and harder, bringing a serious threat to human health. We should consume whole grains reasonably, avoid excessive intake of high starch and glutamate-rich whole grains, and pay attention to the cooking method of whole grains to protect the health of blood vessels. Only by taking coarse grains scientifically and rationally can we truly enjoy the health benefits brought by coarse grains.