Your Toughest Diet Dilemmas Solved

Wheat vs. Whole Wheat

"If the word whole isn't listed as one of the first three ingredients on your loaf, then it's essentially white bread," says Lisa Young, PhD, RD, an adjunct professor of nutrition at New York University and author of The Portion Teller Plan. Like the name indicates, whole grains contain the entire grain kernel -- which guarantees the maximum dose of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Non-whole-grain products -- aka refined grains -- have been processed to remove parts of the kernel. Although this extends shelf life and smoothes the texture, it also strips away some of the nutritional benefits.