wheat vs white; PButter recommendation

[rocky_road]

Everyone knows that whole grain, wheat things are better for you than white. But in some foods, is their really any difference? Sometimes, when comparing labels, I can tell a significant difference in things such as dietary fiber or protein, but usually the difference between two comparitavely equal things (wheat bread vs white, whole-weat crackers vs regular), is only by a few grams (perhaps one gram saturdated fat in the regular kind. Whole grain foods have gotten so much attention lately, that I have to wonder: Do the benefits of whole wheat go further than what we read on labels? I may have heard something before about wheat bread sustaining fulness better--but wouldn't that show up on dietary fiber? I also noticed that the differences between wheat bread and regular are usually less in brands like Kroger...could that be because the quality of the wheat bread is not that good?

Speaking of Kroger....on a shopping trip today I picked up the coolest peanut butter. It's Kroger brand called "Natural Crunchy", and along with Natural Smooth they look different than Kroger's regular peanut butter, so if you look for it make sure to see the difference. Anyway, a 2-tablespoon serving has 190 calories (140 from fat), 2 g. saturated fat, 0 g. trans fat, 8 gr. protein, and 4 net carbs (with only 2 sugars). I guess these facts are preety much consistent with most peanut butter...but it seems a little more healthy anyway. The best part of the peanut butter is that its more sticky than most, so you can't eat too much of it too fast! This helps me as I could eat peanut butter for several minutes! Make sure to have a nice glass of milk with it....or.....whichever beverage you prefer The only turn-off I see in the PB is that it does have oil seperation, and it must be refrigerated. If anyone tries this, tell me what you think!

 

[rocky_road]

also Brown Rice vs. regular rice...

 

[rocky_road]

PSS.

Mega-T Brand Green Tea chewing gum is like really good! I chew on gum all the time in school and saw a commercial for it. My mom got it at I believe the Medicine Store for me as a stocking-stuffer. I don't even like drinking green tea, but this gum has a good flavor to it.

 

[Aries13]

WHen addressing the white vs. whole grain issue...it all goes down to how it is made and manufactured!The ideal diet would consist of foods that are the least amount processed, fortified, enriched...etc. The grain itself, in its natural form (which included the endosperm and the outer nutrient shell) is what is considered a whole grain. Because it is whole, it is healthier and more nutritious. As far as the white bread-white rice group, the whole thing with that is that the manufacturers (a long time ago) figured out that they can remove the outer nutritious shell of the whole grain and use the endosperm(white) part of the grain. It made food a lot more tasty but people got sick left and right b.c there were no nutrients in this food. Today, due to this, they are enriching the white grain food group.... They are chemically putting back the nutrients that were removed ...so I guess it all depends whether you want to eat food in its natural healthier more nutritious state vs. food that is too processed and bad quality???

As far as PB, I love just eating the stuff from trader joe's where the only ingrediens are peanutbutter and salt...also comes with honey...thats the best!

 

[rocky_road]

Thanks for the reply. I really appreciate just the act of responding. To tell you the truth I've felt offended when I come on here and no one replied...lol.

 

[victoria978]

also Brown Rice vs. regular rice...

I think what you might want to think about is complex carbs vs simple carbs.

Whole grain breads and brown rice are complex. Where as white breads and rice are simple carbs. Complex carbs digest slower and cause your insulin to rise and fall at a more even pace. Simple carbs cause your insulin levels to spike suddenly then drop suddenly giving you a burst of energy because of the fast digestion and fast use of the simple carbs, BUT the drop makes you feel drained suddenly and quickly.

I hope this is helpful.

 

[WoNderWoMan25]

I've gotten into the habit of comparing complex carbs and simple carbs.

For the post part, I stick to complex. To me complex = good. Simple = bad... Simple- I eat them fewer, farther in-between. I don't eat too much bread, but often eat brown rice for example. Complex carbs seem to keep me fuller longer (taking longer to digest, I believe). They also keep my energy levels in the right place. I know I feel the drop, the crash - after too many simple carbs eaten alone.

This is just me personally, but hope you found it helpful.

 

[jenscats5]

I think you've gotten some good answers on the wheat bread thing....just make sure it's 100% whole wheat & not just white bread colored with caramel color (sugar). I personally keep buying the *expensive* Carb Control bread as it's the only bread I can find with no sugar.

As far as the PB goes - yes you need to stir it up as the oil is just the natural oil separating out of the peanut. I like it better now as it has more *mouth feel* to me and is thicker than regular PB. Plus it's natural without all the hydrogenated oils, sugars & trans fats. I'm now used to keeping it refrigerated. I like it better now than regular PB and I like Trader Joe's unsalted Natty PB or Crazy Richard's brand (CR is the best IMO).

 

[scorpiogirl]

I buy the Carb Control bread too - Pepperidge Farm - because of the sugar. I am still looking for one that is less processed though. A couple of the girls eat Performax bread. Not sure what it is....maybe they can elaborate.

ANPB mixed with Splenda is DIVINE! I use Krema brand from Kroger. The only ingredient is peanuts. No added salt, sugar or hydrogenated oils.

As far as the slow responses..don't take it personal! No offense intended....really!

 

[jenscats5]

I buy the Carb Control bread too - Pepperidge Farm - because of the sugar. I am still looking for one that is less processed though. A couple of the girls eat Performax bread. Not sure what it is....maybe they can elaborate.

ANPB mixed with Splenda is DIVINE! I use Krema brand from Kroger. The only ingredient is peanuts. No added salt, sugar or hydrogenated oils.

As far as the slow responses..don't take it personal! No offense intended....really!

Yep - I've been buying the Pepp. Farm too.....

And I havent' been around a lot lately, which is why I don't always respond to threads.....

 

[*Bunny*]

I would rec. staying far away for all forms of PB ... period. Find another way to get some healthy fats, there are many ...

 

[jenscats5]

I would rec. staying far away for all forms of PB ... period. Find another way to get some healthy fats, there are many ...

Now, now Buns! *shakes finger*

 

[*Bunny*]

Now, now Buns! *shakes finger*

 

[buffalogal]

I would rec. staying far away for all forms of PB ... period. Find another way to get some healthy fats, there are many ...

How 'bout far away from the JAR of PB?? Take just one or two tablespoons and then hide the jar way back in the fridge so you forget about it until it's time for it again. That stuff is to d*#n addicting!!!

 

[Aries13]

Hmmmmm I want some PB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yum-Yum
My fave (which Im about to eat) is 2tblsp of NPB mixed w. few raisins and a lil' cinnamon and then I cut up an apple into slices and eat it w. that......so good

 

[jenscats5]

Hmmmmm I want some ANPB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yum-Yum
My fave (which Im about to eat) is 2tblsp of NPB mixed w. few raisins and a lil' cinnamon and then I cut up an apple into slices and eat it w. that......so good

that's a really good idea!! YUM!!

 

[Sassy69]

I would rec. staying far away for all forms of PB ... period. Find another way to get some healthy fats, there are many ...

I have to agree as well -- too much ANPB comes out on my skin w/ the oil and the carbs in it still make me sort of sicky feeling. But then a friend introduced me to the idea of Splenda w/ PB -- bitch. Dammit I have to completely stay away from that stuff in general. I"m happier w/ my vinegar & oil / flax oil fat sources. Even the almonds are hard to stop. Flax oil is not something u want to sit around & munch on.

 

[c3bodybuilding]

Yummy natural pb (the kind with honey that smuckers just came out with), whole wheat bread and a banana sliced in (who needs jam?!) with a cup of skim milk are a favorite bulking snack of mine.

As for the bread issue, it's all about complex vs. simple carbs. Things like white bread, sugar, soda, etc all give us a quick rush of energy (insulin spike) then let us down just as fast. That's exactly what you don't want! What you want is a carb source that provides a nice steady stream of energy that lasts. The best carbs are whole grains, yams, oatmeal, brown rice, etc. Stay away from the white bread

Ps. Make sure the bread is stone ground, rye or pumperknickle. A lot of those cheap store brand whole wheat breads are nothing more than enriched white bread with caramel coloring added.

 

[WoNderWoMan25]

Hmmmmm I want some PB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yum-Yum
My fave (which Im about to eat) is 2tblsp of NPB mixed w. few raisins and a lil' cinnamon and then I cut up an apple into slices and eat it w. that......so good

Wow... yummy! Altho the last thing I need with the PB is encouragement.

 

[treilin]

I have to agree as well -- too much ANPB comes out on my skin w/ the oil and the carbs in it still make me sort of sicky feeling. But then a friend introduced me to the idea of Splenda w/ PB -- bitch. Dammit I have to completely stay away from that stuff in general. I"m happier w/ my vinegar & oil / flax oil fat sources. Even the almonds are hard to stop. Flax oil is not something u want to sit around & munch on.

MMMMM Flax Seed Oil... I just can't wait to try that with splenda.
I'm actually doing a serving of almonds, and 2T Olive oil for my fat sources.
I can't stop with the PB so I just don't have it. I find it's best to leave at work in the fridge since I always crave it at home. It's been in the fridge 1/2 full for the past month now.

 

[slat1]

Like most everyone else said whole grains are the way to go. With rice you want to go with Brown and long grain.
Interestingly, back in the days of kings and queens processed food was considered prestigious. So the king/queen would eat processed bread.
The peasants would eat the whole grain bread.
Why am I mentioning this. If you look back in time the peasants were thin and healthy looking.
The royalty had skinny legs and a fat mid section. Most suffered from type II diabetes from eating all the refined foods.

white bread/past/rice = sugar
wheat = estrogen (in men)
whole grain = healthy

 

[sarita]

I've been using 'smart balance omega" natural peanut butter (www.smartbalance.com), I bought it at the local supermarket Stop & shop. It has flax seed oil in it. It tastes good, and is pre blended so it doesn't seperate. I use it sparingly and limit myself to 1 tbsp instead of the standard serving of 2 tbsp as its easy to get carried away with the serving size.

 

[rocky_road]

Smart Balance....I effing love brands like that. I will definetely try their butter some time, but I've already tried Promise and fell in love with it. It's almost unnatural how much I ENJOY a toasted piece of (wheat) bread with like a bunch of Promise butter. mmmm!
It's reassuring to find brands like Smart Balance. Proves that, despite the trend of Obesity, people and marketers care to be healthy. Then again, the healthy brands are always more exensive :-( It's so worth it though!

Ps.... so their is a difference between Wheat bread (with first ingrediant of whole grain flour), and whole-grain bread? Is whole-grain auctually more healthy for women?

Thanks, guys. I'm just still a bit confused.
-Jessica-

 

[jenscats5]

Smart Balance....I effing love brands like that. I will definetely try their butter some time, but I've already tried Promise and fell in love with it. It's almost unnatural how much I ENJOY a toasted piece of (wheat) bread with like a bunch of Promise butter. mmmm!
It's reassuring to find brands like Smart Balance. Proves that, despite the trend of Obesity, people and marketers care to be healthy. Then again, the healthy brands are always more exensive :-( It's so worth it though!

Ps.... so their is a difference between Wheat bread (with first ingrediant of whole grain flour), and whole-grain bread? Is whole-grain auctually more healthy for women?

Thanks, guys. I'm just still a bit confused.
-Jessica-

Whole grain & Whole Wheat are pretty similar - whole wheat employs only wheat & whole grain employs more than 1 type of grain.

The issue between "wheat" & "whole wheat" is usually the whole grain part....wheat bread is not necessarily Whole Wheat.