MINOCQUA - Making half your grains whole could sound like a tall order for some, but once you sort through the food options it's easier than you'd think.

Unfortunately many foods are processed and stripped of their natural health benefits, so I spoke with a dietician who says getting back to basics is best for your body.

To better understand whole grains you should first know what processed grain contains and what's been taken away to make it half as healthy.

Mary Sikora-Petersen is a Dietician with the Marshfield Clinic and says, "Take away the germ, which contains the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They also take away the bran, which is the fiber. So what you're left with is really just carbohydrates and a little bit of protein."

Diets rich in whole grain also offer more than a handful of healthy bonuses for your body, "Eating more whole grains can help control blood sugar and blood cholesterol. It can also help with losing weight because whole grains are high in fiber and that helps us feel full longer. Whole grains can also help prevent cancer."

Don't be fooled by marketing gimicks at the grocery store.

The sure way to tell you have whole grains is reading the ingredient list and making sure the first item on the list is "whole grain."

Some wording to watch out for...Multigrain, this means there are many grains, it doesn't promise any of those are whole.

So keep your eyes open the next time you fill up the shopping cart.

Story By: Michael Crusan