On International Whole Grain Day, IDF Europe is raising awareness of the importance of including wholegrains in one’s diet.
Wholegrains are a key component of a healthy and sustainable diet. For people living with diabetes, eating wholegrain foods is beneficial for better management of blood glucose levels because they tend to have lower glycaemic index levels. This means they do not affect blood glucose levels as quickly as refined carbohydrate foods.
Some studies have shown that healthy diets, rich in wholegrain foods, can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, certain types of cancer, and Type 2 diabetes. In addition to this, epidemiological evidence indicates that individuals who consume an average of two-to-three daily servings (60–90 g/day) of wholegrain have a 21–32% reduction in the incidence of Type 2 diabetes compared with those who rarely or never consume wholegrain. To read more on this click here.
In addition to the individual health benefits for people living with diabetes, increasing our intake of wholegrains has a positive impact on the environment and can reduce the burden on health systems by lowering the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Europe.
Check out the diabetes UK website for tips on incorporating more wholegrain into your diet.
Watch IDF Europe Board Member, Stella de Sabata, take part in the initiative to highlight the importance of wholegrains for better diabetes management:
