The skinny on whole grains

Muscle & Fitness/Hers, March, 2004

Considering that a slice of whole grain bread and a slice of white bread have about the same number of calories, does it really matter which one you eat? Certainly, the fiber and B vitamins in the whole grain slice make it a healthier choice, as we all know. But it turns out that opting for whole grains over refined ones can keep you slimmer, too.

The most recent news from the Nurses Health Study, an ongoing research project being conducted by Harvard and Brigham Women's Hospital, is that women in the study who consumed the most whole grains over a 12-year period gained an average of 3.3 fewer pounds than the women who relied more on refined grains. The women with the highest of the high fiber intakes had a 49 percent lower risk of major weight gain. Now, which slice are you going to choose?