Why Hate Grains?

I’ve been ISO (that’s in search of) a reason for why so many people shun grains. If you do, please comment and let me know why, I’m open minded, educate me! Many think they shun grains as they command the attention of their friends during their brief table-side sermons about their “clean” diet. Next thing you know they are slapping one of their friend’s hands in shame for diving into the courtesy bread on the table. And then a brief debate ensues: “But it’s whole grain bread!” exclaims the friend, “yes but it contains gluten, that’s bad for your abs” says the nutrition-know-all preacher. The bread-loving friend bows his head in shame and asks the waiter to remove the bread from the table. The debate is over and the preacher has once more sprinkled his holy nutrition wisdom on the common folk.

I love observing people and listening. When I’m out and about I certainly do more of that then talking and it’s part entertainment, part behavioral education.  You see, I need to find out what people think and where they hear their nutrition knowledge so I can “undo” some of the  incorrect things they’ve been told. And when it comes to grains, there are indeed many figure and fitness athletes who avoid most grains except brown rice, quinoa and Ezekiel bread. However, the scenario I see in the general population is much different. They tell me about their ultra healthy diet and how they avoid grains during the week and eat a “clean” low fat diet. But then by the weekend I catch them downing a few beers (made from barley of course) and consuming tortilla chips or other bar food. It is almost as if they’ve adopted the “what happens on the weekends, doesn’t count and I don’t tell my dietitian” philosophy. And yet, these same people are spreading the “grains are garbage” philosophy to their peers.

So I ask, why avoid grains? Where’s the science? And I’m not talking about what my ancestors age 5,000 years ago.  They also exercised a heck of a lot more than we do today so that is a moot point. I don’t know many people running around (notice the exercise part) hunting down their own meat for dinner.

I do believe that cutting out grains works for some people because it is a thought-less process of cutting down on one large food group (no grains means no doughnuts, waffles loaded with butter and syrup or scones). But I think it sends others the very wrong message (ice cream isn’t a grain so I can dig in!). Not to mention that all grains aren’t created equally. Grains as consumed in a Hostess cupcake for instance are very different than a piece of fresh baked rye bread. And, research on barley and rye for instance, indicates that these grains produce a slow, sustained blood glucose response and therefore, they may be a better option than say a baked potato or piece of fruit.

Nutrition requires individual prescriptions and not wide reaching generalities to the masses because everyone’s physiology, training program, individual likes and dislikes (some people can’t live without their beer so I work with them on how they can lose weight but still drink a few brewskies). What works for you may not work for someone else. So please, if you hate grains, great, but don’t shake your finger at your friends or slap their wrist. After all, no one likes the food police.