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General Information about Grains and
Benefits
The Role of Whole Grains in Disease Prevention
This review of whole grains summarizes research supporting whole grain
consumption and gives suggestions to improve whole grain intake. Dietary
intake studies indicate consumption of whole grains is an average of 1 or
fewer servings a day, compared to the recommended 3 servings a day.
Mechanisms linking whole grains to disease prevention may include
gastrointestinal effects, antioxidant protection, and intake of
phytoestrogens. Beneficial effects of whole grains in cardiovascular
disease, cancer, and blood glucose regulation are reviewed. The health
claim on whole grains is also outlined. AUTHORS: Slavin J, Jacobs D,
Marquart L, and Wiemer K. Source: Journal of the American Dietetic
Association 2001:101(7):780-785
Studies Point to the Health Benefits of Whole
Grain Foods
Two recently published Harvard studies highlight how a healthy lifestyle
that includes a diet rich in whole grain foods can
contribute to better health in women.
Researchers assessed the food intake of more than 75,000 middle-aged and
older American women several times over a
12-year period, and kept track of how many developed diabetes or suffered
a stroke during that time. Results showed that, after accounting for other
factors that affect health, women who consumed the most whole grain foods
were more than 30% less likely to suffer a stroke and about 25% less
likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who consumed a less varied
diet. For additional information visit:
http://commentator.tufts.edu/archive/dis_prev/whole_grains.html
Choose a diet with plenty of
grain products, vegetables, and fruits
Most of the calories in your diet should come from grain products,
vegetables, and fruits These include grain products high in complex
carbohydrates -- breads, cereals, pasta, rice -- found at the base of the
Food Guide Pyramid, as well as vegetables such as potatoes and corn. Dry
beans (like pinto, navy, kidney, and black beans) are included in the
meat and beans group of the Pyramid, but they can count as servings of
vegetables instead of meat alternatives.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/dga/dga95/grains.html
American Heart Association
Recommends
Eat
a variety of grain products, including whole grains. Choose 6 or more
servings per day.
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1330
National Population Health Survey - "Canadians
and Healthy Eating - how are we doing?"
How have Canadians responded to healthy eating messages since they were
first introduced? Are they aware of the key messages? Are they taking
steps to act on them?
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hppb/nutrition/factsheets.html
How many servings from each
food group do I need?
It
may seem like a lot, so check to see how many you really need. And, you
may be eating more servings than you realize. For example, a plate of
pasta can count as 3-4 servings of Grain Products and a juice box as 2
servings of Vegetables and Fruit.
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hppb/nutrition/pube/foodguid/eguide3.html
The Dietary Guidelines describe food
choices that promote good health
The Dietary Guidelines are designed to help Americans choose diets that
will meet nutrient requirements, promote health, support active lives, and
reduce chronic disease risks. Research has shown that certain diets raise
risks for chronic diseases. Such diets are high in fat, saturated fat,
cholesterol, and salt and they contain more calories than
the body uses. They are also low in grain products, vegetables, fruit, and
fiber. This bulletin helps you choose foods, meals, and diets that can
reduce chronic disease risks.
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/nutguide.html
Health Claims: Heart Healthy has two possible
meanings:
1.The item is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and fat and provides
without fortification significant amounts of one or more of
six key nutrients. This claim will indicate that a diet low in saturated
fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart
disease.
2.The item is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and fat, provides without
fortification significant amounts of one or more of six
key nutrients, and is a significant source of soluble fiber (found in
fruits, vegetables and grain products). This claim will
indicate that a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol and rich in
fruits, vegetables and grain products that contain some
types of fiber (particularly soluble fiber) may reduce the risk of heart
disease.
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fdacmenu.html
Professional self-study guide—Whole Grains and Chronic Disease: A
Self-Study Guide for Health
Professionals provides a technical
summary of the research about whole grains and chronic disease. This
self-study guide summarizes current knowledge regarding the link between
whole grain consumption and health.
http://www.GeneralMills.com/nutrition/hn/wg_go.htm
Health Claim Notification for
Whole Grain Foods
On
March 10, 1999, General Mills, Inc. submitted to the agency a notification
containing a prospective claim about the relationship of whole grain foods
and heart disease and certain cancers. The notification cited the
following statement from the Executive Summary of the NAS report, Diet and
Health: Implications for Reducing Chronic Disease Risk (page 8), as an
authoritative statement: "Diets high in plant foods--i.e., fruits,
vegetables, legumes, and whole-grain cereals--are associated with a lower
occurrence of coronary heart disease and cancers of the lung, colon,
esophagus, and stomach." For purposes of bearing the prospective claim,
the notification defined "whole grain foods" as foods that contain 51
percent or more whole grain ingredient's) by weight per reference amount
customarily consumed (RACC).
Copyright © 1997
CompanyLongName
Last modified:
September 30, 2005
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