Confused by Fiber and Whole Grains?
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October 30, 2008
It’s okay, don’t feel bad. You can tell us you just don’t understand the difference between grams of fiber versus grams of whole grains. We understand, and we want you to know – you are not alone. We frequently get questions from people just like you, from all over the country, wanting to know why the nutrition facts panel on a product says Xg of fiber, but the Whole Grain Stamp says Yg of whole grains. Pardon the stage whisper, but even folks in the medical field have asked! It’s true! Just this week while at the American Dietetic Association’s Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo, not one but three Registered Dietitians asked me why a Stamp would say one thing while the nutrition facts might say another. And these are people who educate about health and nutrition!
So let’s address the confusion. Whole grains are whole grains, and fiber is fiber. They are two separate things – grains are an ingredient, while fiber is a component of this and possibly other ingredients in a product. While all whole grains contain fiber, the fiber in all whole grains is not equal. Just like the smell of flowers is different between a rose and a lily, or the taste of a Cortland apple is different than that of a Granny Smith, the percentage of fiber in a whole grain varies greatly from one grain to the next.
Take brown rice, a delicious and nutritiously beneficial whole grain. This corner stone of my favorite Arroz con Pollo recipe is naturally lower in fiber than other whole grains, about 3.5% or 0.6 grams of fiber in a 16 gram serving. And then there’s Kamut grain, one of the ancient grains making a comeback here in the United States and a favorite of mine for homemade soups. This rich and buttery whole grain boasts a 19.2% fiber, or 3.1 grams of fiber in a 16 gram serving. And remember, these are just the grains we’re talking about. Your favorite products may have added fiber from extra bran, resistant starch, or other high fiber ingredients. So remember to look for the Whole Grain Stamp for whole grain grams, check the nutrition panel for grams of fiber, and if it doesn’t make sense, read the ingredient list to see exactly where your fiber is coming from.
Curious about how your favorite whole grain stacks up? See more about fiber in whole grains on this page on our web site. (Kara - October 30, 2008)
It’s okay, don’t feel bad. You can tell us you just don’t understand the difference between grams of fiber versus grams of whole grains. We understand, and we want you to know – you are not alone. We frequently get questions from people just like you, from all over the country, wanting to know why the nutrition facts panel on a product says Xg of fiber, but the Whole Grain Stamp says Yg of whole grains. Pardon the stage whisper, but even folks in the medical field have asked! It’s true! Just this week while at the American Dietetic Association’s Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo, not one but three Registered Dietitians asked me why a Stamp would say one thing while the nutrition facts might say another. And these are people who educate about health and nutrition!So let’s address the confusion. Whole grains are whole grains, and fiber is fiber. They are two separate things – grains are an ingredient, while fiber is a component of this and possibly other ingredients in a product. While all whole grains contain fiber, the fiber in all whole grains is not equal. Just like the smell of flowers is different between a rose and a lily, or the taste of a Cortland apple is different than that of a Granny Smith, the percentage of fiber in a whole grain varies greatly from one grain to the next.
Take brown rice, a delicious and nutritiously beneficial whole grain. This corner stone of my favorite Arroz con Pollo recipe is naturally lower in fiber than other whole grains, about 3.5% or 0.6 grams of fiber in a 16 gram serving. And then there’s Kamut grain, one of the ancient grains making a comeback here in the United States and a favorite of mine for homemade soups. This rich and buttery whole grain boasts a 19.2% fiber, or 3.1 grams of fiber in a 16 gram serving. And remember, these are just the grains we’re talking about. Your favorite products may have added fiber from extra bran, resistant starch, or other high fiber ingredients. So remember to look for the Whole Grain Stamp for whole grain grams, check the nutrition panel for grams of fiber, and if it doesn’t make sense, read the ingredient list to see exactly where your fiber is coming from.
Curious about how your favorite whole grain stacks up? See more about fiber in whole grains on this page on our web site. (Kara - October 30, 2008)
Comments
I feel confused with this
Fiber vs whole grain