Research from Harvard, recently published in the highly respected peer-reviewed Journal of Clinical Nutrition, has now proven that women who eat the most whole grains lose more weight and maintain that weight loss better than women who eat the least amount of whole grains.

In a twelve year study of over 74,000 nurses, ages 38 to 63, the researchers discovered that women who ate the most whole grain foods weighed less than those who ate the least. The Harvard scientists concluded that the high whole grain group of women had a 49 percent lower risk of gaining weight. The women eating the most whole grains also had a much lower risk of heart disease and diabetes.

For many years now, nutritional research has recommended the consumption of nutritious whole grains because they"re rich in vitamin E and other essential oils, B complex, protein, minerals and high quality fiber. But, this is the first time that whole grains have been proven to have such a major effect on both weight loss and optimal weight management.

Although some popular diets lump all carbohydrates together, this study proved there is a major distinction. As I"ve said before, "All carbohydrates are not created equal." In the Harvard study, women who ate large quantities of processed, refined grains tended to be obese, whereas women who ate the most whole grains weighed less than all the other women in the study and had less tendency to gain weight.

So, be sure to include 100% whole grain breads and cereals in your weight loss program. Read the labels. Look for the coarsest, least processed whole grains. Sprouted and stone ground are best. And make sure that high glycemic sweeteners are not high on the ingredient list. European style rye bread or hearty rye crackers are also good choices. The coarser the grain the better. The same goes for cereal. Old fashioned oatmeal should be your choice rather than oat flakes or "instant" hot cereals. Avoid "puffed" cereals also, even though they might claim to be 100 % whole grain. My favorite breads are "Ezekiel" from Food for Life. They can usually be found refrigerated at most major health food stores.

This latest research shows that you can eat hearty whole grains, enjoy these low glycemic carbohydrates and stay trim and healthy. Because now we can say for a fact that whole grains help prevent weight gain.