Whole Grains for Whole People

By Tom Monte

When people began to sing songs about America, they sang about "amber waves of grain." When our ancestors considered all the foods available, they called grain "the staff of life." When the Chinese philosopher and sage, Mencius, ranked the most important aspects of any realm, he said the following: "The people are the most important element in the nation; the spirits of the land and grain are next."

When the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its newest set of dietary guidelines for Americans, the food scientists urge us to eat the most of is grain -- six to 11 servings of it per day!

Indeed, no matter how we approach food -- from science, philosophy, traditional medicine or culture, the one food that stands out as preeminent is whole cereal grain.

Why, we might ask, is such importance placed on this one food?

Here's a short East-West answer to that question. From the West

Once you reach adulthood, the nutrient you need more of than any other is carbohydrate. The reason is simple: your body needs an abundant source of fuel, and carbohydrate is the most efficient, cleanest burning fuel you can consume.

There are two types of carbohydrates -- complex, which are long chains of sugar molecules; and simple, which are short and quickly metabolized sugars. Complex carbohydrates are broken down by saliva and enzymes in your intestines. These long chains of sugars are then made available to your blood stream in a constant, methodical way, as if your body were feeding itself over several hours. Simple carbohydrates, which come in the form of white, refined sugars, are absorbed into the

blood stream the minute you put them into your mouth. Within minutes, they dramatically raise blood sugar levels and then quickly burned. The provide a quick burst of energy, but are quickly spent, leaving you without much available fuel. The result is that you feel tired, listless, moody, and anxious, a condition referred to as hypoglycemia.

Everyone wants to have energy, endurance, and stamina. Without energy there is no life. And clearly the best source of energy is from complex carbohydrates. The most abundant source of those are from whole grains. Whole grains -- grains that have not been stripped of their nutrition by the refining process -- provide the greatest assortment of nutrition in the food supply. Whole grains contain carbohydrate, protein, minerals and vitamins -- especially vitamin E -- and fiber.

Animal foods contain lots of protein and fat, but no carbohydrate or fiber. Fruit contains lots of carbohydrate and fiber, but no protein.

Harvard University agronomist Professor Paul C. Manglesdorf, said, "A whole grain cereal, if its food values are not destroyed by the over-refining of modern processing methods, comes closer than any other plant product to providing an adequate diet." No one, including Dr. Manglesdorf, is suggesting that we eat only whole grains, but when it comes to satisfying your overall needs for nutrition, grain comes is by far the most nutrient rich food available.

Not only does it provide nutrition, but its fiber content also helps you eliminate waste and fat. Fiber is indigestible matter. It swells with water inside the intestinal tract, making waste softer and peristalsis -- the rhythmic contraction and expansion of the intestinal muscles -- easier. All of these factors combine to make waste elimination easier and more frequent. Fiber also shrinks tumors in the intestines, and binds with fat and cholesterol to reduce blood cholesterol levels.

From the health and scientific perspective alone, grain is a miraculous food.

From the East

Grain formed the basis of civilization among all peoples. But it also represented the basis of medicine, especially among Oriental peoples. In Chinese medicine, each grain was seen as an herb, having specific tonifying and strengthening effects on a specific set of organs. The chemistry of food was not understood by the Chinese, of course. They saw food from another view, as having specific energetic qualities. In Chinese medicine, a food's energetic nature is based upon how it grows, where it grows, and it's structure or shape. Through centuries of study, the Chinese developed a system based upon how food affected individual parts of the body. Here's a short list of whole grains and their individual health affects, according to Oriental medicine.

Brown rice. Brown rice strengthens and boost the function of the lungs and large intestine, according to Chinese medicine. It is in the nature of brown rice -- its underlying characteristic energy -- that causes its life force, or Qi, to flow to these organs. In doing so, it is said to replenish the Qi, or life force, in both the lungs and large intestine. Brown rice also cleanses the large intestine, making its function more efficient and vital. The large intestine and lungs are seen as the places where the body stores its grief. By strengthening these organs, brown rice was also used to help eliminate, or let go of, longstanding grief from one's life.

Barley. The organs it affects most are the kidneys and bladder. Barley, both is whole and lightly refined or "pearled" form, stimulate and strengthen kidney and bladder function, according to Chinese medicine. It is especially recommended as a food in winter, when the Chinese maintain one's overall life force is focused more in these organs. Barley is wonderful in soups, stews, cooked with a variety of hearty vegetables, with miso or tamari-shoyu added to the broth.

Wheat. The Chinese use wheat to help boost the function of the liver and gall bladder, to cleanse the organ, and rebuild its Qi. It is among the primary herbs for the liver. The liver is seen as the place where we store our anger. Wheat helps the liver relax, to release pent up tension and anger, and to restore equilibrium to the body and emotions.

Oats. Strengthens the liver and gall bladder.

Corn. Strengthens the heart and small intestine. The heart and small intestine -- regarded as the Fire Element in Chinese medicine -- are seen as the place where joy resides. When the heart and small intestine function are weak, joy is low and hysteria more likely. Corn is among the more important herbs for treating the heart and small intestine. It is also used to help restore one's capacity to experience joy.

Amaranth. Strengthens the heart and small intestine.

Millet. Strengthens spleen, pancreas, and stomach. The spleen is seen as the place of understanding resides in the body. People with weak spleens are either hard and cold, or overly solicitous, to the point of being maudlin, says the Chinese healer.

Millet strengthen spleen and restores a balanced and understanding view of life.

Sweet Rice. Strengthens the spleen, pancreas, and stomach. Like millet, sweet rice boosts spleen energy and assists the organ in healing itself. It helps to reestablish biological function, and emotional harmony.

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