According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition whole grains can slim down your belly. It was found that a reduced calorie diet that is high in whole grains may help reduce the percentage of body fat around the waist more than a reduced calorie diet that includes refined grains. MSNBC reported this in an article titled Whole Grains help deflate belly rolls on Feb 20th.
Not only did whole grains help to reduces abdominal fat compared to refined grains, but the whole-grain diet helps to improve C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels in the blood. High CRP levels have been associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. While it hasn’t been determined what causes these benefits, it is thought that it could be due to fiber which helps to stabilize blood sugar or the antioxidant properties.
While weight loss comes down to creating a calorie deficit (consuming less calories than you burn), this study shows that where those calories come from is important too! To help improve your heart health and your waistline try some of the tips given in Fiber Part II to increase your intakes of whole grains.