This commentary from Glenn Gaesser, PhD. explores the association between refined grain consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Current U.S. dietary guidelines recommend replacing refined grains with whole grains due to the recognized benefits of whole grains for reducing chronic disease risks.
adults
Perspective: Does Glycemic Index Matter for Weight Loss and Obesity Prevention? Examination of the Evidence on “Fast” Compared with “Slow” Carbs (November 2021)
The glycemic index (GI) categorizes carbohydrates as “fast” (high-GI) or “slow” (low-GI) based on their impact on blood sugar levels. This review assessed whether dietary GI influences body weight and obesity risk using data from observational studies and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
Association between Grain Intake, Nutrient Intake, and Diet Quality of Canadians: Evidence from the Canadian Community Health Survey–Nutrition 2015 (August 2019)
Canada’s Food Guide emphasizes whole grains as the primary choice of grain products, but does higher whole-grain consumption always improve diet quality? This study analyzed nationally representative data from the Canadian Community Health Survey–Nutrition 2015 to explore the relationship between grain consumption, nutrient intake, diet quality, and obesity rates in Canadians.
Grain Foods Are Contributors of Nutrient Density for American Adults and Help Close Nutrient Recommendation Gaps: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2009–2012 (August 2017)
This analysis examined the role of grain foods in providing energy and nutrients for U.S. adults using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009–2012). Grain foods were analyzed for their contributions to both total energy and shortfall nutrients identified by the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), including dietary fiber, folate, iron, and magnesium.
Prebiotic consumption and the incidence of overweight in a Mediterranean cohort: the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra Project (December 2015)
Prebiotics, including fermentable and nondigestible carbohydrates like fructans and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), are believed to positively influence weight regulation by improving gut health. However, their role in preventing overweight or obesity has been underexplored in longitudinal studies. This study investigated the association between prebiotic intake and overweight incidence in a cohort of middle-aged Spanish university graduates.
Whole-grain products and whole-grain types are associated with lower all-cause and cause-specific mortality in the Scandinavian HELGA cohort (July 2015)
Whole grains are a cornerstone of dietary guidelines due to their association with reduced risks of chronic diseases. This study explored the impact of whole-grain (WG) consumption on all-cause and cause-specific mortality in the Scandinavian HELGA cohort, encompassing 120,010 adults aged 30–64 years from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, over a follow-up period ending in 2009.
