Study Shows That Whole Grains May Reduce Cancer Risk — Here Are Some Recipes!

Are you eating grains every day? If you’re not, you might want to consider adding them because according to a recent study by the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) and the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), regularly incorporating whole grains into your diet may reduce your risk of colorectal cancer.

The study, which analyzed 99 studies worldwide and data on 29 million people (over a quarter of whom were diagnosed with colorectal cancer), found that those with high intakes of red meat were at a higher risk of colorectal cancer while eating three servings of whole grains daily led to a decrease in risk by nearly 20 percent.

According to Edward L. Giovannucci, MD, ScD, lead author of the report: “The findings from this comprehensive report are robust and clear: Diet and lifestyle have a major role in colorectal cancer.”

Need Help Eating More Whole Grains? Try These Recipes! 

With that being said, whole grains are delicious, and we here at One Green Planet are huge fans of them. If you’re not sure what to do with whole grains, then we’re here to help. We searched the Food Monster app for these five recipes that will help you eat more whole grains.

For Breakfast: Snickerdoodle Cookie Baked Oatmeal

Did you know snickerdoodle cookies have been shown to improve your overall mood by 57 percent? …Alright, so that’s not entirely true. Bearing that in mind, what could be better than this Snickerdoodle Baked Cookie Oatmeal by Lauren Smith is a great way to get whole grains first thing in the morning!

For Lunch: Forbidden Rice and Mango Salad

For a flavorful lunch, try this Forbidden Rice and Mango Salad by Gunjan Dudani. Forbidden black rice folded in with fresh mango chunks and refreshing cucumbers, beautiful red bell peppers to add color and spiced with jalapeño peppers and flavored with mint and some lime zest for citrus tinge. It’s so easy to make too! Within minutes the meal was ready and I fell in love with it in the first bite. I felt energetic, refreshed, and delighted.

For a Snack: Sweet Potato Ginger Granola Bar

These Sweet Potato Ginger Granola Bar by Hallie and Reya Tobias are soft, a little chewy, and oh so satisfying. Plus, they’re packed with nutrients from the sweet potatoes, including beta-carotene, fiber, anti-inflammatory properties, and antioxidants that aid in keeping our digestive tract healthy. All of that mixed with almond butter, gluten-free oats, and shredded coconut make for a perfect snack to give you energy and curb midday sweet cravings.

For Dinner: Easy Cheesy Broccoli Brown Rice Bake 

If you’re looking for something easy and nourishing, and this Easy Cheesy Brown Rice and Broccoli Bake by Kelly Williams is exactly that. It’s easy as can be, especially if you cook the brown rice in advance. Lots of broccoli-rice dishes require pre-blanching the broccoli or sautéing garlic and onions, but this all makes it easy. You pretty much just mix brown rice and broccoli in a casserole dish and stir it up with a basic cheesy sauce. Easy peasy.

For Dessert: Cookie Dough Cupcakes

In these Cookie Dough Cupcakes from the Sweet, Savory, and Free cookbook, you can get a double dose of the cookie dough: one in the filling and one in the frosting. Makes sense, right? And with no raw eggs to worry about, it’s safe for everyone. Because after all, everyone in the world loves cookie dough.

For even more whole grain recipes, check out Think Rice is Boring? Try These 25 Exciting Recipes.

If you’re looking for more delicious and seasonal plant-based recipes, then we highly recommend downloading our Food Monster App, which is available for both Android and iPhone, and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. The app has more than 8,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to ten new recipes per day. Check it out!

Lead image source:  Stephen Cook Photography/Shutterstock