Why Rye?

I get Dr Oz's RealAge Tips of the Week by e-mail and often there's an interesting article that is perfect to share with this group. Here's one from this morning:

Make midafternoon cravings a thing of the past by bulking up your breakfast with a slice of rye toast. Research suggests that eating rye bread may do an even better job than wheat bread at keeping stomachs from growling later in the day.

In a study, people who ate rye bread with breakfast were less hungry before and after lunch compared with people who ate wheat. Rye’s super-high fiber content probably has something to do with it. But researchers suspect that rye may also produce a lower insulin response than wheat bread (this would help with hunger), and that rye may have a unique fiber composition that keeps people feeling full longer.

Of all the rye breads tested, rye-bran bread had the best effect on hunger. Makes sense, since it also has the highest fiber content of the breads.

And here's why you want to increase your water intake when you increase your fiber intake: Together they keep your food bulky and soft, so it can move easily through your system without putting too much pressure on your intestines. Remember, without water, fiber often turns to cement.

The combo of fiber and water also makes you feel full, which helps your overall health, because it keeps you from eating other things that are more likely to lead to problems associated with obesity, like heart disease and diabetes.

Hope this information helps get you off to a great start this week!
Love - Gerri