Gluten-free diets and gluten sensitivity are fascinating subjects from both medical and cultural perspectives. Those with Celiac disease or wheat allergy should avoid gluten. But what about Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity?

Should we eat whole grains or refined? Which ones cook easily? Which ones are rich in minerals? Which ones are gluten-free? Are ancient grains nutritionally superior? Are pigmented grains better?

Yes, oats are healthy! They are whole grains, rich in fiber. They help in cholesterol lowering and weight loss. They also provide food to our gut bacteria! Dr Greger explains that oat groats and steel cut oats are healthier than rolled and powdered oats. Why?

Dr Greger has a couple of videos on health promoting properties of millets!

Quinoa is a healthy pseudo-grain that cooks quickly. Which one is better: white, red or black? And is there some quinoa that's super rich in iron?

Dr Greger explains why sorghum has become one of his favorite grains in recent years. Red and black sorghum has much more antioxidant power than white sorghum. But alas! These colorful sorghums are not available in USA. Still, white sorghum has unique benefits.

Barley is a flavorful whole grain but it is available in so many forms in the market! Which one should we buy? Hulled or pearled?

A unique micronutrient in rye is lignans!

Rice is not recommended by Dr Greger, Dr Klaper and many other Whole Food Plant-Based doctors. Why? Because rice has too much arsenic these days! Even if we adopt the best known arsenic reduction technique (boiling in excess water, then draining), cancer risk from arsenic in rice remains too high.

Articles & videos by Dr Greger explaining why brown rice (a whole grain) is nutritionally superior to white rice (a refined grain).

Which rice is best: white, brown, red, purple or black? Should we eat rice at all?

Thai jasmine white rice is not a whole grain — it's missing bran and germ. Thai jasmine brown rice is a whole grain — it has all three parts: bran, germ and endosperm! Pigmented varieties include red rice, black rice and riceberry rice (which is also black in color). Of these, riceberry rice (black in color) is probably the most nutrient rich.

Are ancient grains like kamut (khorasan wheat) and emmer healthier than modern grains like wheat and rice? Very few studies till date to reach a definitive conclusion. But the few studies done so far suggest that ancient grains are better.