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).
Key Points:
- Studies show inconsistent findings on GBFs and health, with some overstating risks associated with RGFs.
- WGFs often contain refined grains (49–74%), complicating binary classifications of grains.
- Overconsuming RGFs without sufficient WGFs can create dietary imbalances, but RGFs alone do not inherently harm health.
- Avoiding enriched RGFs may lead to nutrient deficiencies (e.g., folate, B vitamins, iron, and zinc) and reduce the acceptability of WGFs.
- Balanced dietary patterns, like the Mediterranean diet, incorporate both WGFs and RGFs and are linked to positive health outcomes.
This perspective reinforces the importance of dietary balance, advocating for the integration of both WGFs and RGFs to achieve optimal health.
