BC Living
Great Finds at BC Winery Shops
Spreads – From Scratch
You’ve Gotta Try This In May
4 Tips on Balancing a Nutritious Diet with a Side of Indulgence
Choosing Connection: A BC Family Day Pledge to Prioritize Presence Over Plans
Embracing Plant-Based Living this Veganuary and Beyond
Inviting the Steller’s Jay to Your Garden
6 Budget-friendly Holiday Decor Pieces
Dream Home: $8 Million for a Modern Surprise
Boutique Escapes: BC’s Hidden Gems for Travelers
BC’s Boutique Hotels
Local Getaway: A Mini Cozy Sanctuary in Nelson
Family Fun for the Victoria Day Long Weekend
What to Wear to BC Theatre
BC’s Boutique Music Stores
Beauty Buys: Must-Have Products from BC’s Cosmetics Boutiques
Pyrrha Connects People With Pieces That Speak To Them
BC-Based Gifts Perfect for Mom
Just because they're devoid of colour doesn't mean all white foods are bad for you
Some white foods, like garlic, contain important nutrients
For years, dietitians have encouraged us to eat a rainbow of richly coloured fruits and vegetables to ensure we get adequate amounts of disease-fighting nutrients. White, of course, is not a colour of the rainbow, and that’s made white foods a popular nutrition target.
In this context, the offending white foods include refined carbohydrates like sugar, white flour and processed foods (made from white flour) like white bread, pasta, cookies, crackers and baked goods.
When a whole grain is refined, the process strips away almost all of its nutrients, leaving behind little more than white starch. While carbohydrates are important in a healthy diet, refined carbohydrates contain little, if any, fibre and are often accompanied by added salt or sugar. It’s easy to overeat these tasty but nutritionally empty foods, leading to weight gain and poor blood sugar control.
While white refined grain foods aren’t good for you, not all white foods are bad. Milk, yogurt, low-fat cheese, onions, garlic, potatoes, cauliflower and oatmeal all deliver valuable nutrients.
Since no single food, group of foods or colour category supplies all of the nutrients needed for optimal health, variety remains the key to healthy eating. Eat a diet that includes all the food groups but emphasizes fibre-rich, high-quality foods in all colour groups.
Originally published in Wellness Matters, Canada Wide Media’s quarterly newsletter on health and wellness.