Critics of this particular study say that the fact that whole grains came from cereal, as opposed to from some other source, has nothing to do with the results. The whole grains could have come from any source and as long as the same serving sizes was reached, the results should be the same. The benefit in associating the results with cereals is that it is relative easy to find healthy cereals that meet the minimum standards set by the study. Additionally,because people often skip breakfast (or don't have whole grains with it), eating cereals adds extra servings of whole grains above and beyond what they would normally eat throughout the day.

By now, just about everyone knows that whole grains are good for you and the simple advice to switch to whole wheat bread and substitute brown rice for white is only going to bring in grains in a very limited way. Whole Grains Every Day, Every Way is a cookbook that is also a complete, detailed guide to different types of grains. It covers fairly common ones, like barley and polenta, as well as more unusual grains, such as quinoa and amaranth.

The book has a tremendous amount of well-researched reference material in it that is intended to make the book instructive, a reference guide in addition to a regular cookbook - and one that you can turn to again and again for clarity on cooking methods and the properties of various grains, regardless of what cookbook you are using. The recipes themselves are very varied, with meat dishes, vegetarian dishes and plenty of desserts. Some are simple and others more complex, but thanks to the clarity given in the book's tables and descriptions, all are easy to make. Highlights include Quinoa and Calamari Salad, Popcorn Crusted Catfish, Posole with Pork and Chipotle, Bulgur Pudding with Honey and Dates, Coconut–Black Rice Pudding and Chocolate Chip-Hazelnut Cookies.

"Currently there is neither a regulatory definition of the term 'gluten free,' nor is there agreement among manufacturers or consumers as to what this term means," said the FDA. Their new rules state that "gluten free" foods must not have any type of wheat, rye or barley, including hybrid grains that use them. They allow for the use of such grains if the gluten is completely removed before processing, however. The terms that will be imposed on those who violate the new guidelines, assuming that they are accepted, has yet to be determined. The FDA will take comments on the proposal (PDF) for several weeks before revising it and making their final ruling.

A study done by the USDA has shown that increasing the amount of whole grains in your diet can have multiple health benefits, including lowering the blood pressure of individuals who have slightly elevated cholesterol. The participants went on a controlled diet for a few weeks, then the refined carbohydrates they ate were all replaced with whole grains that had both soluble and insoluble fiber (barley, whole wheat and brown rice). Some diets had an equal amount of the two types of fiber, while others had more insoluble fiber. The blood pressure for all the study participants decreased on the whole grain diets, though women did better on the diet higher in soluble fiber (more barley).

One other interesting result of the study was that once whole grains were added to the diets from the controlled baseline diet, the number of calories that study participants also increased. Even so, they lost an average of 1 kg each (2.2 lbs) during the several-week program.

The Department of Agriculture has proposed some changes to the standards currently in place for grass fed beef. At the moment, there really are no specific guidelines, and farmers who produce at least 99% grass fed beef want labels that indicate that their beef is exactly what it sounds like: from cows that live in pastures and eat only grass. The proposal has no provisions that state that the cows must be kept in pastures and it defines "grass" to include "leftovers from harvested crops," including corn and silage, which feedlot finished cows are already fed. It means that some conventional beef, feedlot beef, could be labeled "grass fed."

Understandably, the farmers who have pasture-raised cattle don't like the proposal because it devalues the "grass fed" label, barely separating it from conventional beef as far as consumers are concerned. They propose a more specific definition of "grass" and a minimum amount of time that the cows must spend grazing in pasture each day. The Agriculture Department says those rules are too strict and that their standards put less strain on ranchers, particularly in years of bad weather or drought when pastures may suffer.

Under the Agriculture Department's standards, more beef labeled "grass fed" will reach the market. But will consumers want it, or be willing to pay a premium for it, if it has no distinction from conventional?

Actually, it shouldn't be thought of as an indulgence. The couscoussiere is basically a double boiler used to make couscous and a variety of "stews" that are ladled onto the grain (technically a pasta). Originating in North Africa, couscous was made from Semolina by the Berber peoples. Couscous itself is now prepared and served variously all over the world, similar to rice. Immigrants to Israel from North Africa brought their own recipes, making couscous more of a main dish than a bed for meat stews, and this isn't a strictly Moroccan affair, as many believe. Most of North Africa can lay claim to their own couscous staple-dish.

Couscous can be made in any steamer or even simply soaked and then boiled. However, it is the couscoussiere that distinguishes the pedestrian from the "proper" couscous dish. Now, a couscoussiere isn't cheap. I don't like counter clutter and wasted shelf space, and I admit I don't own a couscoussiere, but I've used them to great success and pleasure. You can check out couscous recipes for yourself and see if you want to take it to the next level. If you've got the taste and the cash, go for it. A high-end couscoussiere presented at table is a splendid sight and your guests will be salivating before you take the lid off.

I know that there were more than a few people who found the labels "good source of whole grains" and "excellent source of whole gains" to be confusing and that the FDA has been working on developing a better definition of the term for some time now. The FDA has worked out a new system of classification based on the number of grams of whole grains in a food and has eliminated any good/excellent designations. The new labels are an eye-catching black and gold and clearly state the number of grams of whole grains per serving, as well as the recommended daily amount of 48grams, as suggested by MyPyramid. This eliminates any guess work - though it does call for a little bit of math - on the part of the consumer.

Products must be authorized to use the stamp, getting approval from the FDA or the UDSA, depending on what type of food the item is, since the two groups regulate different commodities. The USDA covers meat, dairy and eggs and the stamp is approved for use on those products, as well as the grains and other foods that the FDA regulates, if they contain whole grains.

So far, more than 800 products are approved. You can see a full list here or, of course, keep an eye out for the labels while you shop.

The sales of White Whole Wheat Flour have increased dramatically this year over previous years and as consumer interest has grown, so have supplies. More grocery stores, large and small, now carry the flour. While the product is not new, having been available for more than a decade, its sale is no longer limited to specialty stores and it is far more widely available than ever before. This increased availability means that more people are exposed to it but many are still unfamiliar with the product.

White whole wheat flour is made from a naturally occurring albino variety of wheat. The wheat does not have the tannins or phenolic acid that are found in the outer bran of ordinary red wheat, so not only does it lack the color, but it does not any of the slightly bitter taste that is often associated with whole wheat flour. The flavor is mild and sweet, very similar to that out plain or all-purpose flour, though it does have a hint of the nuttiness of whole wheat.

The recommended daily guidelines for Americans suggest that at least half of all the grains consumed during the day be whole grains, which comes out to be 3 -5 servings daily. Aside from whole grain breads, like those made from whole wheat flour instead of wheat flour, there are quite a few other foods that will let you get those servings in. The ten most popular sources of whole grains are whole wheat (flour), whole oats/oatmeal, whole-grain corn, popcorn, brown rice, whole rye, whole-grain barley, wild rice, buckwheat and triticale, and as they are the most popular, they are also the most readily available.

Oatmeal, corn, popcorn and both brown and wild rice are easy enough to add into your weekly diet, and barley can stand in for rice or potatoes at many meals. Rye and buckwheat can be found in many breads, most of which will make superb sandwiches during the week. To add them in at home, you can try buckwheat pancakes or a blueberry buckwheat bundt cake. Triticale is a hybrid of rye and wheat, found mostly at health food stores, and can also be incorporated into many recipes.

A great source for some whole-grain recipes online is Bob's Red Mill website, which covers recipes for all of the top 10 grains.

You don't have to be a nutrition expert to know that whole grains are an important part of the diet. After all, labels promoting them are appearing on nearly every product in the supermarket, from breakfast cereals to cookies. One of the most difficult foods to get whole grains in is bread. While this may seem like an obvious choice, many people still can't resist buying a loaf of their favorite white or buttermilk loaf when they're shopping. Too many consumers have a negative perception of whole grain breads as being dry, hard and with an overwhelming wheat taste that seems too overtly "good for you."

Part of Real Simple magazine's online content this month is a taste test of whole grain breads, trying to identify the tastiest and most nutritious ones on the market. They only looked at the national brands, so while the bread from your favorite local bakery might be better, you won't go wrong by picking up a loaf of any of these choices when you a traveling or simply want to make a sandwich.

• Rubschlager 100% Whole Wheat or European Style Whole Grain
• Arnold Whole Grain Classics 100% Whole Wheat or Healthy Multigrain (available east of the Mississippi)
• Oroweat Honey Fiber Whole Grain Bread (available west of the Mississippi)
• Thomas Squares Bagelbread 100% Whole Wheat
• Pepperidge Farm 100% Whole Wheat Natural Whole Grain Bread
• Earth Grains Extra Fiber 100% Whole Wheat

One final option is to buy bread made with "white whole wheat" flour, such as some of the buns and loaves made by Sara Lee. They mimic the taste and texture of regular white bread, but offer diners an extra dose of whole grain goodness.

Over the past several months, we have seen that red wine and grapefruit are both good for your gums (a guy who lost most of his teeth says that peanut milk is good, too, but you'll have to take his word for that one) and can potentially help fight or prevent gum disease. Now, it looks like a diet rich in whole grains could also reduce the risk of developing periodontitis.

In a study done by researchers at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, 34,000 men, aged 40-75, had their eating habits followed via survey for fourteen years. None had a history of periodontitis, heart attack, high cholesterol or diabetes at the start of the study. 5.5% of the men developed periodontitis (gum disease), but the men who reported that they ate at least three servings a day of brown rice, popcorn and other whole grains were significantly less likely to get the disease that the men who reported eating one or fewer servings of whole grains.