It wasn't just our love of stone-milling that got us into this business thirty years ago. We've always known how important whole grains are for good health.  Back then, healthy whole grain foods just could not be found in the marketplace. That inspired us to offer a diverse and extensive line of whole grain foods for every meal of the day. These days, more and more folks are becoming aware of just how essential whole grains are for wellness. It is most gratifying to have doctors, medical schools and nutritionists emphasizing that whole grain foods are basic and fundamental to good health. Check out the helpful information below and find out what they're saying.

Health Benefits of Being a Vegetarian

A vegetarian diet has many health benefits, including lowering one's risk of coronary disease, gallstones, cancer, kidney stones, and much more. Vegetarians have lower cholesterol than those with a diet containing meat. Eating a healthy vegetarian diet also increases your vitamin C and E intake. These vitamins combined with beta-carotenes and phyto-chemicals (which are also found in vegetarian diets) act as antioxidants that decrease your chances of heart disease and cancer. In addition, following a vegetarian diet can reduce your blood pressure! For more information on the healthy benefits of eating a vegetarian diet and tips on how to change your lifestyle, click on this link.

Food For Thought

Even though there is no guarantee that a certain diet, or mix of foods, will target the brain and make it more alert, or that one single nutrient will improve concentration and memory in the long-term, experts do know, based on scientific research, that whole foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables support health in general. To find out more about how diet plays a role in brain function click on this link .

What You Should Know About Trans Fat

Trans fatty acids (or "trans fat") are made by a process called hydrogenation, which converts relatively healthy unsaturated vegetable oils into solid fat. This prevents the fat from spoiling, so it's very appealing for restaurants and food manufacturers. The problem is that the body treats these trans fatty acids more like artery-clogging saturated fat, such as butter and animal fat. It's important to be aware of these fats because there is a direct relationship between diets high in trans fat and an increased risk of coronary heart disease. Trans fats are in foods like vegetable shortening, margarines, crackers, candies, baked goods, cookies, snack foods, fried foods, salad dressings and processed foods. Unfortunately, food manufacturers aren't required by the FDA to list the amount of this harmful trans fat in their products until 2006. Not one of Bob's Red Mill's stone ground whole grain products contains trans fat. We're proud of this fact and have begun displaying "Trans Fat 0g" on all of our labels Nutrition Facts panels. For more details on trans fat and ways that you can avoid it, click on this link.

Fiber and Fast Foods

America's fast food culture may not be offering the fiber our bodies need. To find out the benefits of fiber, and the recommended daily amount we need in our diets please click on this link.

The Mayo Clinic recognizes the value of including whole grains into our diets.  In their article "Whole grains: Reap the rewards," they discuss the anatomy and incredible variety of whole grains, as well as exciting ways to include whole grains in your diet. Click on this link to see the full article.

A recent study by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that people who eat just one serving of whole-grain cereal a day are as much as 20% less likely to die from heart disease, diabetes, or cancer than those who do not. Click on this link to learn more about what a difference including whole grains in your diet can make.

Healthy eating prevents cancer?  It's true! No single food can take away the risk of cancer, but choosing a healthy diet can reduce your chances of developing certain types of cancer. Diet can also boost your immune system and help you fend off other health problems such as heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Click on this link for a comprehensive guide to eating healthy whole grains and other foods for wellness.

Flaxseed has been recognized around the world as a food with amazing health benefits. Research indicates that flax acts as a  protector against chronic illnesses like cardiovascular disease and some cancers. Click on this link to find out what makes just two tablespoons a day of ground flaxseed such good medicine and how you can incorporate it into your diet.

Sarah's Kitchen

Do you need help incorporating healthy whole grains into your diet? Sarah's Kitchen, from www.baking911.com, is a formidable resource for baking instructions and recipes.

Need help with food allergies?

Food Allergy Talk.com is a wonderful resource for tips, recipes and information about food allergies. Topics covered included wheat & gluten, milk, peanuts, soy, eggs and corn. Each topic lists foods to avoid and hidden sources of the allergen. The site also features a food ingredient dictionary, recommended books, quick facts and a chat room.