Truth be told, grains have a host of nutritional shortcomings. It is finally becoming widely accepted that the refined grains, which make up most of our cereals, pastas and breads are absolutely devoid nutritionally. Whole grains are much better, but no grain can be eaten in a completely unrefined state

All grains have to be milled and ground to some degree, but it’s a matter of how much they end up being refined. In the real world, whole grains have been less processed and less milled than the really refined grains, so the good news is at least they contain more of the bran, which is the outer coating of the grain, providing fiber for diet. One unique fact about oats is that unlike other grains, they retain the bran and germ layers where most of the nutrients are found.

Then there is the gluten issue. Gluten is a primary component of grains such as barley, rye, oats and particularly wheat. A full blown allergy to gluten is called celiac disease, and many people have been undiagnosed. Wheat is one of the seven top allergens in the diet and the high gluten content is usually the culprit.

Two great companies that make gluten free products are www.bobsredmill.com, and www.pamelasproducts.com. Both companies offer a large variety of products and I can personally attest that their products are really delicious!