Americans should actually be eating MORE bread: New study slams the 'war on carbs' - warning we need twice as much whole wheat in our diet
Contrary to popular belief Americans don't have enough bread in their diet, a new study has found.
The study, which was conducted by the Grain Foods Foundation, shows that consumption of grain-rich foods such as bread, rolls, tortillas and ready-to-eat cereals is less than 15 percent of an individual's total diet.
However, guidelines say 30 percent of our meals should consist of grains.
Experts warn that a lack of grainy foods is causing a decrease in critical and healthy nutrients that are required for a balanced diet.
The research team noted that the findings show that Americans should think twice about cutting out carbs to try and lose weight.
'Grain foods are the foods we love that love us back,' co-author Yanni Papanikolaou said. 'Finally, we can enjoy bread again.'
A team of researchers looked at what adults are eating and how it contributes to growing shortfalls of nutrients, which has become an issue in Americans' diets.
That shortfall of key nutrients has cause public health concerns in many American communities.
The team looked at dietary surveys from more than 10,000 adults over the age of 19, which were collected by the National Center for Health Statistics at the CDC.
The survey asked participants to recall all they ate in the past 24 hours. The data were then analyzed in men and women, and researchers looked at the consumption of all of the grains.
They also broke the responses down into sub-categories, such as whether people were eating breads, rolls, tortillas, ready-to-eat cereals, cook grains, quick brads and sweet bakery products.
The team looked at the contribution of each of these products to the average American's daily required amount of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
They were specifically looking to see how the lack of grains in an individual's diet can contribute to a shortfall of important nutrients - particularly fiber, folate, magnesium, calcium, and iron.
The research team noted that though they might have an unhealthy reputation, grain foods are often nutrient-packed and less caloric than people have been led to believe.
Many of the most popular sources of grainy foods - breads, rolls, tortillas and cereals - contribute significantly to dietary fiber, thiamin, folate, iron, zinc and niacin levels that are critically important to the diet of American adults.
'The nutrient contribution of all whole and refined grain food products, including breads, rolls and tortillas and ready-to-eat cereals, can play a key role in helping American adults meet recommendations for under-consumed nutrients and nutrients of public health concern,' Papanikolaou, who is the vice president at Nutritional Strategies Inc, explained.
'We all know that The Dietary Guidelines recommend consuming half of our grains as whole grains.
'But refined, enriched grains, including breads, rolls, cooked and ready-to-eat cereals also can provide meaningful contributions to the diet of all Americans. So, there is no need to eliminate these from you diet.'
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