Americans Need to Eat More Whole Grains

Americans are not eating enough whole grains, which is causing diet quality and nutrient intake to suffer, according a new study published in the October 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Researchers at Louisiana State University used data from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and discovered adults aged 19 to 50 and 51+ years consumed a mean of 0.63 and 0.77 servings of whole grains per day, respectively. For both age groups, diet quality and intake of energy, fiber, and polyunsaturated fatty acids were significantly higher in those consuming the most servings of whole grains.

Intake of total sugars (19 to 50 year age group only), added sugars, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and cholesterol was significantly lower in those consuming the most servings of whole grains. Intake of all micronutrients, except vitamin B-12 and sodium, was higher among individuals who consumed the most servings of whole grains.

The researchers concluded that overall consumption of whole grains in the U.S. population was low using the recently updated whole-grain definition.