Communities

For Healthcare Practitioners

As a healthcare practitioner your daily interactions with individuals is vital for the health of the entire populous. Your already crucial role working with patients means you are in the perfect position to influence the health of our communities.

We’re prepared to guide you in getting clear, honest, practical facts so you can guide your patients in the importance of eating healthy, whole grains. Once you are armed with the truth about the benefits of including whole grains in a patients’ diet, you are on the way to affect great change not only for the individual, but for the healthcare system as a whole.

Whole grains as part of a healthy diet can reduce the incidence of chronic diseases making for healthier people. And a healthier community lowers the cost of healthcare for everyone.

Your questions, answered:

What is a whole grain?
A whole grain contains all parts of the seed: the bran, the germ and the endosperm. A whole grain has all the goodness nature intended: all the original protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals.

How can whole grains improve health?
Just by consuming 3 servings of whole grains each day, the risk of developing a chronic disease can be reduced. Eating whole grain foods improves health by helping maintain a healthy body weight. A well-managed diet including whole grains reduces risk of heart disease, type II diabetes, stroke, and some cancers, among many other benefits.

How can we get more whole grains in the food supply?
Great question. As a healthcare practitioner you have a unique opportunity to affect the food supply. Educating your patients on the basics of identifying whole grains and encouraging their consumption pushes the demand for foods with whole grains. Grocery stores want to fulfill demand, distributors want to keep their stores in stock, suppliers want to maintain a market-edge and farmers want to grow what makes economic sense.

How do we educate people on whole grains and encourage their consumption?
First, learn more about whole grains & health. Then, educate the people you see each day and especially those you treat for a lifetime. Transforming the food supply to include healthy, whole grain foods begins with you.

How do I begin?
If you’re a healthcare practitioner interested in more information about educational opportunities, training sessions or health-related resources, please call 952-500-9012 or email us today: info@grainsforhealth.org.
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