Facts about Whole Grains and Breakfast as a Healthy Habit in Louisville, KY

There are two basic types of grain products- whole grains and refined grains. When it comes to the health, whole grains are where it’s at. They can keep heart disease at bay and through that cardiac emergencies at bay. Anyone can be at the receiving end of a cardiac arrest or heart attack. A victim would require immediate treatment for survival with the only form of treatment being the proper application of the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation procedures that comprises chest compressions and rescue breaths.

There are courses for both healthcare as well as non-healthcare providers. Always choose an accredited training center for acquiring training such as the AHA certified CPR Louisville. Read to know more about a Basic Life Support Louisville program.

BLS Training Classes- The first time Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers Class, a.k.a. BLS Class, is geared toward training individuals currently working in healthcare or planning a career in healthcare. In the first time BLS class, students will learn adult, child, and infant CPR. Students will also be trained on the use of an automated external defibrillator, or AED. Because this CPR class is for healthcare providers, there will be added training on how to use and perform rescue breaths using a bag valve mask. This device is found in hospitals, offices, and many other healthcare facilities. The BLS class training concludes with time dedicated to learning how to rescue choking infants, children, and adults. CPR Louisville allows students plenty of hands on practice and time to master the skills of BLS.

This American Heart Association CPR class is required for medical professionals working in hospitals, private practices, dental facilities, and enrolled in healthcare and medically related college programs. BLS certification may also be required by other employers not mentioned.

The program fee is $70.

So, the two types of grain products include:

Whole Grains- they contain the entire grain – the bran, germ and endosperm.

Refined Grains- they are grounded into flour or meal which removes the bran and germ which gives them a finer texture and improves their shelf life but strips the grain of important nutrients you need, including B-vitamins, iron, and dietary fiber. Some of the examples include white and wheat flours, enriched breads, and white rice.

Benefits of Whole Grains:

1.      Whole grains are good sources of dietary fiber which is required by all unlike refined grains which contain little or no fiber.

2.      If you are trying to lose weight, fiber can help you feel full, so you’ll be satisfied with less calories.

3.      Grains provide nutrients like thiamin (Vitamin B1), riboflavin (Vitamin B2), niacin (Vitamin B3), folate (Vitamin B9), iron, magnesium and selenium which are all important for a variety of body functions like forming new cells, carrying oxygen in the blood, regulating the thyroid, and maintaining a healthy immune system.

4.      Lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity and Type 2 diabetes as dietary fiber helps improving blood cholesterol levels.

Some of the common whole grains include:

1.      Whole wheat

2.      Graham flour

3.      Oatmeal

4.      Whole oats

5.      Brown rice

6.      Wild rice

7.      Whole grain corn

8.      Popcorn

9.      Whole grain barley

It is important for people to read nutrition labels for correctly identifying whole grains. The AHA recommends that at least half of the grains you eat are whole grains. The FDA recommends 25 grams of fiber each day for a 2,000-calorie diet. Get fiber from foods instead of supplements. Some of the other good sources of dietary fiber include fruits, vegetables, legumes, beans and peas.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is advisable for everyone to make breakfast a healthy habit as breakfast-skippers are most likely to:

1.      be overweight or obese

2.      have diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol

3.      use tobacco

4.      not exercise regularly

5.      not get recommended amounts of important nutrients

6.      eat more calories and added sugars the rest of the day

Watch out for salt and added sugars if you choose prepackaged breakfast foods. Look for whole-grain products that give you dietary fiber and other beneficial nutrients.

You can either sign up for a program online at CPR Louisville or call on 502-804-6132 for registration.