Health Benefits of Whole Grains | Dr. Neal Barnard Live Q&A 

I eat a Dr Fuhrman lunch (large salad) and a Dr McDougall dinner (starch and veg)

Thank you so much for this enlightening discussion about grains! I switched to a vegan/whole foods plant-based diet two months ago, and already I feel the best I’ve felt in a long time, maybe ever. My weight is in the morbidly obese category. And over the years I have tried many diet programs and nothing has worked to provide sustainable weight loss and overall improved health. But now that I am nourishing my body with fresh, organic, whole foods everyday, I don’t have the crazy out of control cravings that once plagued my body and helped ruin my health. Instead, now I am losing weight with minimal effort. I have more energy. The inflammation in my body is going away. I can actually exercise and move around a lot more and without pain. My gut health has improved. I no longer have irritable bowel syndrome. I can sleep peacefully for 7-8 hours a night now. All of this improvement in just two months is mind blowing. Because of this near miracle change in my lifestyle, I will never go back to the way that I was eating before. Which included the unfortunate consumption of: lots of eggs, meat, fish, dairy, unhealthy fats, and various forms of sugar. And this all while on various “diet plans” that were supposedly designed to make me feel better. Sadly it was all untrue. But now I know the truth about whole food and how it can actually heal the body. The vegan/whole food plant-based diet is the best and only health plan for me for the rest of my life. I really appreciate the Physicians Committee podcast and am a RU-vid subscriber. The information on this channel is truly life saving. Continued blessings to you all!

I have listened to this many times, and keep coming back to it when I lie down for a nap. I get something more from jt each time. As an 85 yr old gal, I appreciate you telling it like it is. This is a lifetime journey.

I would also love to add how much I love when Dr Barnard is on the show & his practical approach.great questions,thank you for a great vid.🙏💗🌿🍲🥗

plantbased food diet the best one ... from keto, flextitarian , vegetarian and finally I'm 90% plantbased food diet... so good really fantastic 👏

"Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live." - Jim Rohn . Thanks Dr. Barnard!

My late mother’s family is all in Japan. Yes, they do eat rice but I wouldn’t say “huge” amounts at each meal. That’s the key though -small portions of everything. The traditional daily meal is a small dish of white rice, plus various small items like tapas with it, like grilled fish, pickled vegetables, occasionally eggs, tofu, natto (fermented soybeans), other seafood, sweet potato, pumpkin, sometimes noodles, green tea. Desserts were not the norm. Maybe fruit. Unfortunately, now they eat too much processed and “western” foods in Japan.

I live in Cambodia now. I am 88 years old on Dec 16. I am California born and raised. My son from S.F born moved here several years. I was ignorant back home then I learned a lot from you. I have lost from your plant meals and do not eat anymore. Lost 35 lbs and only weigh 120 now. The vegetables and fruit here is wonderful. I can get anything here from the states if I want I miss. I never used my phone regarding health. Being confused I read all Drs but u are for real and I thank you. Coming home in the spring for check up at Kaiser then coming back and I will get your books and bring back, Terri Heisserman😊❤

Love hearing Dr. Barnard's wisdom. Great show.

WFPB blogger here!! Your show helps me grow in my knowledge and health and thus my followers; thank you so much for making the world a healthier place 😍

Been eating wfpb for about 8 or 9 months now and this channel has been so helpful and inspiring. I've been feeling amazing since I started but it was just a difficult transition, learning to cook a new way and figuring out how to eat in various situations but now I feel like an old pro and I am so excited every single day to eat delicious healthy food and feel great, I'm not tempted by bad food at all anymore. Thank you for this channel, Chuck, Dr. Barnard, we love you!

Thank You so much Chuck and Dr, Barnard! this show is so helpful and reassuring! i learn every time i watch, Thank You 🙏🙏💖💖

Gluten - I get depressed within 12 hours after eating it and my stomach swells to the point where I cannot do up my clothes. Why don’t Americans consider millet or buckwheat in their diet? It grows in temperate climate which you have there.

God bless you both for your Noble work 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Always very encouraging & full of needful information from this podcast🙏

Thank you for this! So many friends of mine avoid all grains. The thing is that those are the people who’re having health issues.

Could someone please debunk dr Gundry’s claims about the damaging effects of lectins in whole grains, fruits and vegetables?

Thanks a million for your constant advice in nutrition.

This is especially useful and I take all said seriously, thanks! I am eating a lot of oatmeal daily at this time, but also I bought white rice but don't want too much since for me I tend to overeat it. I actually bought it to up my calories some and it did the trick too well in fact. 🤣 It is good to hear Dr. Barnard's point about not worrying too much about brown rice. I will take that into consideration in my future purchases.

This helped me sooooo much. This has given the freedom & confidence I needed about the grains. You’re the BEST!!!!!

Rolled oats are not as nutritious as steel cut oats. You do a label comparison and you will notice a significant difference, especially in the fiber content.

1:10 I just heard him say "in the U.S. were eating more whole grains than ever" and I think, no wonder you all are so sick, lol

Always enjoy your videos! They have been very helpful and educational! Keep up the good work 😃

Chuck and Dr Bernard, you are the best❤

I like that Dr. Barnard has a sensible approach regarding white rice. It makes sense that if you eat a processed grain but top it with vegetables or legumes that have lots of fiber, you are still benefitting from the fiber of the added ingredients - No need to be concerned that your rice is not whole grain.

As always, great information from Dr. Bernard

I respectfully disagree with Dr Barnard about sourdough bread. The fermentation of grains increases their nutritional value and make them more digestible for people. Thanks a lot for the great content to both. Greetings

WOW!! This entire podcast IS an ad for Rice and wheat and corn!!! Corn, Rice,Wheat, And Potatoes are All Starches snd Ultimately Sugars!! . I Am Pre-diabetic and it can only turn into Full Diabetes. I test my glucose twice a day. Morning and night. EVERYTIME I have Pasta. Rice, Potatoes, or Bread my blood sugar is SUPER High!!! Thiis guy is not a doctor. Hes more like a cigarette salesman.. I can only conclude that this podcast is an advertisement for grain, corn, rice, and wheat. This guy wearing a Tie is a Salesman!!!! I can guarantee you thst he eats steak and eggs for breakfast and never eats cereal. I used to eat that daily before i got super fat. .😮

what about GLYPHOSATE? Should we all go broke trying to buy organic grains or be poisoned with pesticides

Vegan since 2014 and there’s still so much wisdom and knowledge to gain from your podcast! Also, Chuck’s positivity and good mood is such a joy to listen to! Great questions from the Roomies and a pleasure to listen to the walking encyclopedia that is Dr Barnard. Much Love from Germany!

I want to know about lead in cocao/cocoa powder. I eat 2T a day and can't figure out how to know which. brands to choose/avoid. Thanks!

Been WFPB since 7 years with my partner and at distance with Sister and husband! And yes we eat plenty and feel really amazing, we can testify that we improved in those years incredibly!!! And eating MOREof the right things made Z difference!!! Warm greetings from Europe ❤

Thank you so much for sharing all the great ingredients of good eat ❤.

Very encouraging program today. Thank you so much!

I feel better than I felt in high school. Love the show.

Oil free popcorn is one of my favorite whole grains. The high fiber fills you up without a lot of calories and popcorn has some of the highest concentrations of beneficial polyphenols. Get an air popper! They’re cheap and last forever. Also, organic kernels are surprisingly affordable and I love the aroma. It makes me want to binge watch movies though haha!

Great information! Always enjoy your podcast. I enjoy Balsamic Vinegar on my rice. 👍 😊 ❤

This channel is comedy. No. Whole grains are not unquestionably healthy. They are contra indicated in almost every way, shape and form.

I have cancer and every natural practitioner tells me not to eat grains. And that I should be on keto diet. I have been vegan for 11 years and vegetarian 29 before that. Have rare appendix cancer. Ended up with bowel blockage from the cancer. Had emergency ileostomy. So now I am so limited to eat the things I need to fight cancer. But this thing of no grains I have a hard time thinking it makes my cancer grow.

Takikomi gohan is a traditional Japanese rice dish consisting of rice, seasonings such as dashi, mirin, and soy sauce, and various ingredients like seafood, meat, and vegetables.

multi grains in Australia ARENT whole grain....they are usually white bread with some grains thrown in...whole meal /whole grain is superior

I had a similar experience to one of your audience. I eat a lot of tofu and I did not have any menopause symptoms.

Amazing how opposite the advice from these “ experts “ are. Ken Berry MD and others treat grains like they’re poison.

Hello ftom Athens Greece, thank you for your helpful broadcast. Is corn flour healthy to use together with whole wheet flour for making sour bread?

I was advised to soak the rice and bring the brown rice to a boil a couple of times and then cook as usual to get rid of some of the arsenic. Thanks for the video.

It's hard to find a variety of mushrooms in the stores. How do you feel about mushroom mix powders or supplements?

something I read on cheerios ... Obviously no one is spraying Cheerios with Roundup before it's boxed up and shipped to your local grocery store. However, glyphosate is occasionally sprayed on oats as a drying agent. So it's not surprising that glyphosate has been detected in Cheerios by the EWG, a non-profit activist group.

I eat uncooked steel cut oats/buck wheat for breakfast daily. I add walnuts, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, turmeric, cinnamon, banana, blueberries or strawberries and oat milk. It's so filling that I have to remind myself to eat lunch, which I usually do at 3pm.

Japanese eat only little rice, they eat nato m drink green tea and surely not vegan lol..

this discussion is so down to earth , thank you to both of you

the question is if grains are really human food or more like bird food or food for rodents? I mean they have the teeth structure to crack them and can digest them raw which we can not. also they have anti nutrients and all are acid forming so they are definitely not an ideal food source for the human body.

What about wheat germ consumption? Also do grains cause leaky gut? I read they are too abrasive for your colon.

A little late watching this but … So, when I eat whole grains (just a serving - no more) my blood sugar goes into the 140s and then plummets into the 50s 2-1/2 to 3 hours later. I guess that’s reactive hypoglycemia. How do I fix this so I can include grains in my diet without messing up my blood sugar? Guess the powers that be won’t revisit to see my post but I figured I’d throw it out there. Maybe someone else has solved this issue.

I like Chuck and Dr Barnard. They are nice, kind. Dr is calm, cool . This proves that vegan diet is healthy for body and mind.

So inspiring - so well expressed 🙏💚

How can I control my blood sugar and want to increase weight at the same time?

No one ever asks about grits and corn meal.😮

Grains are a big $$$ maker for the food industry, but they are sub optimal food for humans, actually harmful for many.

Rice and tomato/garlic/onion sauce, rice & mushrooms, rice & veggies, pumpkin risotto, saffron risotto, etc.

I am calling in from the UK, great information.

I case you were wondering Neal is 70.

About 15 years ago, I participated in Quaker Oats survey which called for eating oats in some form everyday for 30 days. They initially provided 2 18 oz containers of oatmeal, some oatmeal bars and 2 days carfare for coming to their office. At the end of 30 days, my cholesterol level went from 239 to 214 and that was while still eating chicken,ground turkey, fish and the so called alternatives to butter.

Chuck and Dr Neal , Thanks very much for all this , information, what a great show , I love watching your show , I have begin to change my diet after watching your shows , I talk to my kids and my family what I hear in your shows , I am so glad that my health and in general I feel so great after changing my diet , Sometimes i watch your shows more then once , Thanks very much both of you , God Bless.

I cannot eat grasses at all. I'm celiac and also react to rice and corn and oats. Sad.

Aloha from Big Island Hawai'i ---Violette 💜💙💚💛🧡❤ "where I live there are rainbows"

Plant based doesn't work wothout a ton of supplements, blood-work and medical "supervision" :) WE NEED TO EAT FROM NATURE !!! Meat and eggs even but wild untouched real foods :) Then, I would like to see the debate about grains or whole foods :)

I started eating Teff, Kamut, ferro, barley and buckwheat. I'm allergic to oats. An entirely new world opened up in taste, and flavors. Also (soaking over night) chia seeds, hround flax seeds. All nuts and seeds, pop corn -blue and multi colored. Yes i occasionally eat white rice and i don't like brown rice.

What about steel cut oats?

a traditional Japanese breakfast is a fairly elaborate and time-consuming affair, with grilled fish, an egg dish, pickles, side dishes, rice, and miso soup

The people who believe in a keto diet disagree with you.

You talk about oats but I never hear YOU talk about OAT GROATS thats Whole plus you can eat salty or sweet. Please Chuck get that under Dr N Barnard attention 🤔

I’m watching from Japan Thank you for you helpful and healthful informative programs. It helps me very much. For months now For months now I’ve been cooking brown rice but still with guilt because I’ve on a plant diet because I have a stage 3 breast cancer. Is it safe to wash brown rice and soak in salt and soda for 30 minutes before cooking?

When I started intermittent fasting and cut out grains I developed diverticulitis. Never had gut problems before. Can that heal with your plan? Wfpb?? It’s not a bad case but I want it gone. Also slightly elevated A1C 5.8. I’m going to try this.

There is gluten sensitivity and allergy. A spondylaloysis of the fifth lumbar masked the gluten sensitivity leaving me in agony and usual constant discomfort for about half a century. I discovered this accidentally. It took about six months to begin to clear my system out as the proteins are stored clumped. That was thirteen years ago. After about four years the difference was simply spectacular. I am vulnerable due to back damage but as that is stable I know how to work with it. Since then much research has been done. The idea of this being psychosomatic is irresponsible and can keep people suffering from this, which is estimated as high as over twenty percent in some form, from seeking very tangible help. The simple test is to go for about eighteen days making sure not to touch any gluten containing foods then try them. Wikipedia and Web MD can be referenced. I found out purely by accident and subsequently looked them up. Symptoms are bloating, cramps, constipation, pimples like acne, overweight and general malaise.

I've been listening to this channel for a couple weks. I've NEVER had such great health results in such a short time frame. I spent years trying to eat keto and very high fat anumal products. No matter what the coache were telling me, I never got results. I am just so happy that I was open minded enough to switch my diet 180 degrees.i always leave this channel with very clear information. That never happened with keto channels. Never. The only thing I learned from the keto community is the importance of eating untefined salt for minerals.

I love doctor Barnard and I realize this channel focuses on promoting a whole food, plant-based lifestyle, but why would spreading butter on a healthy piece of sourdough bread completely negate or wipe out the benefits of the bread? Or putting gravy on rice? The health benefits of one thing and supposed lack of health benefits of the other aren’t mutually exclusive. And it’s not animal products themselves that cause one to gain weight. It’s a caloric surplus that causes excess fat gain. Or am I missing what he’s saying?

Cheerios? Really? Don't people eat that with milk? How about the enormous amounts of sugar in it, and the sugar people usually add?

A swing and a miss in the very first sentence. Grains are for beer, filler everywhere else.

I am 62 Vegan for many years sugar free for 6 month and jus continue loose weight .I am 5.1 inches like in least 6 mont lost more then 10 pounds my weight is just 105 now is that normal

I change my diet eating small meal vegetables and fruits stop sugar before I feel tired low energy 😴 I'm very active now

I have an 8 grain mix that I eat cold with soy milk and blueberries or whatever we have and it is excellent for breakfast on these scorching days.

I have a question about sourdough bread. I have heard that it is better for diabetics and I am one and I love my bread and I thinking that if sourdough is better and we’re talking whole wheat sourdough, is there any truth to this concept that it’s better for diabeticsI just heard Dr. Barnard say that it’s not any different than any other whole wheat but he didn’t mention anything about diabetics

I agree that a balance is best. I don’t do well with a heavy gluten and grain diet but none is bad too. I do best with a moderate amount. Sourdough bread, multi grain, pumpernickel breads are okay. I might have toast or English muffin 3-4x a week. But rice, potatoes, pasta I stay away from except very occasionally. Interestingly, I don’t like gluten-free breads. Who knows what’s in them? My stomach does better on breads with the least chemical elements…freshly baked or as close as possible.

I love you Dr. Neal

My grandmother 99 years old she had rice every day lunch and dinner,morning sweat potato for breakfast

The bazooka HAHAHA!!! Another year mark and I'm only getting healthier. Super grateful for both your precious time and efforts! ❤️🙏❤️🙏

Liked what was said about whole grain pasta; it is a waste of time and money. It WILL wind-up in the garbage.

Very useful info and content, thank you for putting this out, and thanks to the Doc, very easy to understand

There’s a tiny bit of sugar added to cheerios. Is that negligible? So it’s ok?

Love Dr. Barnard!!!

There's alot variety of rice white rice is natural white brown is natural brown as well

Quitting all grains was the very best thing I did for my health. Lol.

This topic and this website are full of sh. Wheats are wheats brown rice and white rice are rice.

I eat about 8 dry ounces o whole wheat spaghetti and half a can of plant based sauce is this too much/

Recently I started the WFPB diet. I had cancer also in my liver. Although stable for some time there were still 2 spots there, one of 13 mm that didn't go away though. That showed the last CT scan again. I started on the diet in full. 3,5 weeks later I would get a new liver biopsy. They couldn't do it as all was gone! The liver was clean! 3,5 weeks on this diet!! I know now with the further treatment I do that I can handle the rest of the body and MAINTAIN my health after by staying on this diet for good. I have tried all diets that exist mostly for health reasons. I only recently stumbled on this one. And this is it! Although all other diets had their great benefits, I always felt something was still not fully right about it. Now after many years having found and done this now, I know this is the one, as the immediate benefits and now longer term effects and results are incredible. Also it is the ONLY diet that takes cravings away and creates a permanent rest in the body. Thank you to T Colin Campbell, the Exam Room Host Cuck Carrol and Dr Neal Barnard and all involved in forwarding this life saving information on this diet. A cooking tip for the lady who asked about alternatives to gravy; I fry without oil onions, garlic and mushrooms. I season it with curry, paprika, Laos, etc and then add soymilk. Cook it. Add while stirring chickpea powder to make it thicker and for a good taste and protein. And there you have your healthy 'gravy'!

Is tahini healthy? And how to eat oat, dry or cooked or something else?

Very nice knowledges about our concerns about foods. Thank you very much for the program.

Remember oats are high in bad things. Buy organic and clean,

Some folks speak about the issue of arsenic in rice ...is this a real issue ?

Hello Chuck, great show! Can you do a, episode on BPH please?