The truth of whole wheat
John 8:32 "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Everyone seems to be on board with the fact that we need more fiber in our diets. In fact, the FDA recommendation is that we get 25 grams of fiber each day. If you pick up every package that says "whole grain" or "whole wheat" you still may not get enough fiber. In my work cafeteria, the whole wheat bread and the white bread have exactly the same amount of fiber 1 gram. Leaving me to wonder why I would eat whole wheat bread if I get no dietary advantage. Well, I do like the color brown. Perhaps, I've grown to have a preference for brown bread because it is supposed to better even if I didn't know how to measure if this benefit is actually present. Maybe now, every time I see brown it signals good even when it isn't.
The FDA has some guidelines that can help us quickly figure out if the brown is more than decoration. A package that claims to be a good source of fiber must have at least 3 but less than 5 grams of fiber. Any product claiming to be high fiber must have 5 or more grams of fiber.
The best way to determine the truth is to flip the package over and read the label. The FDA label guidelines make the truth easier to dissect. If you need some guidance on how to read them, check out www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/foodlab.html. The truth is out there; you just have to know what it is.
Everyone seems to be on board with the fact that we need more fiber in our diets. In fact, the FDA recommendation is that we get 25 grams of fiber each day. If you pick up every package that says "whole grain" or "whole wheat" you still may not get enough fiber. In my work cafeteria, the whole wheat bread and the white bread have exactly the same amount of fiber 1 gram. Leaving me to wonder why I would eat whole wheat bread if I get no dietary advantage. Well, I do like the color brown. Perhaps, I've grown to have a preference for brown bread because it is supposed to better even if I didn't know how to measure if this benefit is actually present. Maybe now, every time I see brown it signals good even when it isn't.
The FDA has some guidelines that can help us quickly figure out if the brown is more than decoration. A package that claims to be a good source of fiber must have at least 3 but less than 5 grams of fiber. Any product claiming to be high fiber must have 5 or more grams of fiber.
The best way to determine the truth is to flip the package over and read the label. The FDA label guidelines make the truth easier to dissect. If you need some guidance on how to read them, check out www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/foodlab.html. The truth is out there; you just have to know what it is.
Comments