Whole Grains Learn New Tricks


Corey Brown and Lily "Tigerlily" Hinton came in first and second at the Bluegrass Nationals BMX competition in Louisville, Kentucky, in the 6-year-olds' category! Now if they can just do as well in the BX contest. That's a nutritional challenge that Danish scientists have revealed: They've found that whole grains deliver more than vitamins, minerals, protein and fiber. They also contain powerful immune-system boosters called BX (benzoxazinoids) that kids (and adults) need to have in good supply.

So in addition to helping kids avoid excess weight gain, Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure (up to 30 percent of obese girls and boys have HBP!), eating three servings of whole grains a day - that's 1/2 cup cooked brown rice and 1 cup of steel-cut oatmeal - fights infections! So here are tabletop tricks (that's also a cool BMX trick) for three unusual grains:

-Millet: Lightly toast 1/2 cup in a small pan until fragrant. Stir in 1 1/2 cups water or orange juice; simmer for 15 minutes.

-Kamut (Egyptian wheat): Soak 1/2 cup overnight in 1 cup water. Drain, rinse and put in a small pot with an inch of water. Bring to boil; then reduce to simmer until water is absorbed and grain is tender.

-Polenta (corn mush): Stir 1/2 cup polenta and 1/4 teaspoon salt into 2 cups boiling water. Then cook at a simmer, stirring often, for 30 minutes. Add more water as needed.

Now just deck them out with spices, herbs and steamed veggies. Yum!

© 2016 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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