Why eat whole grains at breakfast?
Incorporating whole grains into your breakfast can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Here's why:
- Nutritional benefits: Whole grains contain essential nutrients like dietary fibre, vitamins B and E, and minerals.
- Less processing: Compared to refined grains, whole grains undergo less processing, retaining more of their natural goodness.
- Heart health: Research shows that 2–4 servings of whole grains per day can reduce the risk of heart disease by up to 40%.
Tips for making your breakfast more heart-healthy:
- Watch out for added sugars: Be mindful of hidden sugars in breakfast cereals and opt for low-sugar options where possible.
- Choose whole grain: Swap white bread for wholemeal or whole grain varieties for added fibre and nutrients.
- Read labels: Look for products labeled "whole grain" or "wholemeal" to ensure you're making heart-healthy choices.
What does one serving of grains look like?
- Cooked porridge: ½ cup (120g)
- Wheat cereal flakes: ⅔ cup (30g)
- Muesli: ¼ cup (30g)
- Dry rolled oats: ½ cup (45g)
Breakfast ideas to promote heart health
Whether you prefer sweet or savoury breakfast ideas, we have a selection of heart-healthy brekkie options for you below. Try our a savoury breakfast slice made with brown rice, protein-rich eggs and cottage cheese or sweet apple and vanilla bean porridge topped with toasted seeds and nuts.