Emerging research suggests that certain refined grains can be part of a healthy diet. A scientific expert panel reviewed studies since the 2015 Dietary Guidelines, focusing on nutrient intake, diet quality, grain enrichment/fortification, and links to weight outcomes.
dietary guidelines
Perspective: Whole and Refined Grains and Health Evidence Supporting “Make Half Your Grains Whole” (May 2020)
Dietary guidelines encourage consumers to “make half their grains whole,” yet debates continue about refined grains and grain-based foods (GBFs). This article counters misconceptions, advocating for a balanced intake of whole-grain foods (WGFs) and refined-grain foods (RGFs).
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.
Several grain dietary patterns are associated with better diet quality and improved shortfall nutrient intakes in US children and adolescents: a study focusing on the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (February 2017)
This study examined grain consumption patterns among U.S. children and adolescents (ages 2–18, N = 8,367) and their association with diet quality and intake of shortfall nutrients identified in the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). Eight grain food patterns were analyzed using NHANES 2005–2010 data.
Certain Grain Foods Can Be Meaningful Contributors to Nutrient Density in the Diets of U.S. Children and Adolescents: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2009–2012 (February 2017)
This analysis evaluated the role of grain foods in the diets of children and adolescents using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2009–2012. The analysis focused on the contribution of grain foods to energy and key nutrients for participants aged 2–18 years (N = 6109).
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.
