Whole grains may be the key to lowering blood pressure, according to new study

Incorporating whole grains into your diet may actually lower your blood sugar and help you lose weight, according to a new study. 

While it may be tempting to indulge in pasta chips and trendy pesto eggs this summer, a study published by The Journal of Nutrition has found eating at least three servings of whole grains can be beneficial to your health as you age. 

Researchers followed 3,100 participants in their 50s over the course of 18 years. Over the course of the study, researchers were able to track participants' daily eating habits and any changes that were made. What they found was that those who ate three or more servings daily, over time, experienced a lower increase in waist size (0.5 inches instead of 1 inch) compared to those that didn’t incorporate whole grains into their diets, meaning if you're looking how to lose belly fat, whole grains could be the answer. 

Participants also had a greater decline in triglyceride levels (a type of fat found in our bodies) during every four-year period. 

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"[This] data suggests that people who eat more whole grains are better able to maintain their blood sugar and blood pressure over time," Nicola McKeown, a scientist from the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, said in a statement. "Managing these risk factors as we age may help to protect against heart disease." 

One serving of whole grains would equate to a single slice of whole-grain bread, which means if you made a sandwich with the bread, then incorporated half a cup of brown rice or a half cup of oats, you’d have three servings. 

While whole grains can benefit your weight and diet, Nicola also said it “delivers health benefits beyond just helping us lose or maintain weight as we age."

Average increases in blood sugar levels and systolic blood pressure (measures the force your heart exerts on artery walls each time it beats) were also found to be lower in people who ate more whole grains.

Just imagine, simply changing up the bread you eat could make all the difference in your health and weight.