April Fool’s Day is the perfect time to reflect on the fact that not everything you read on the web or in print is true. Think about some of the great April Fool’s pranks of all time, for instance, such as

• April 1, 1996 – Taco Bell reports buying the Liberty Bell and renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell.

• April 1, 1992 – National Public Radio announces Richard Nixon is running for president again. (Impersonator Rich Little was very convincing.)

• April 1, 1957 – BBC news reports a bumper spaghetti harvest in Switzerland, due to the eradication of the dreaded spaghetti weavil (see photo at left).

You’re saying to yourself, “Gee, how could anyone fall for those stories?” And yet, in areas from climate change to nutrition, we see people swayed by pseudo-science every day. Twenty studies show the sky is blue. One study shows the sky is green – and before long, there’s someone who’s written a best-selling book claiming that everyone who ever told you the sky is blue was out to get you; new evidence shows the sky is definitely green. 

Those who understand how science works will look at all the evidence and not change course due to one outlying study, until (and unless) it’s been replicated several times. And folks, when you look at all the evidence, the benefits of whole grains are solidly documented. Beyond all the studies, there’s common sense: of course grains with all their nutrients intact are going to be healthier than grains with half to two thirds of their nutrients removed. And wouldn’t the human race have died out by now if grains — which supply half the world’s food — were killing us?

Take a few minutes today, on April Fool’s Day, and check out the facts in the “Myths Busted” section of our website, where we document the real, no-foolin’ story on popular hoaxes about whole grains:

“Whole grains cause inflammation” (actually, they reduce inflammation)

“All grains make your blood sugar spike” (choose ‘good carbs’ and intact grains)

“U.S. wheat is GMO” (nope — farmers have fought this — and won!)

“Wheat is the reason we’re overweight and obese” (there’s no ONE reason)

“Modern dwarf wheat has been bred to contain more gluten” (gluten hasn’t increased)

“We eat more wheat now than we used to” (we eat about half the wheat we ate in 1870)

“Wheat is addictive” (only as addictive as spinach is)

Once you’ve checked out the facts, celebrate Whole Grain Sampling Day with us, by enjoying some of your favorite whole grains — and sharing them with those you love. Whole Grain Sampling Day — always the first Wednesday in April — won’t coincide with April Fool’s Day again until the year 2020, so take advantage of today’s double-special-day by reminding yourself and others that whole grains are a great way to take care of your health. (Cynthia)