Canadians receive key nutrients from grains
New research presented at the Canadian Nutrition Society annual conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, suggests that many foods made from enriched (refined) grains and whole grains are important nutrient contributors to the Canadian diet.
New research presented at the Canadian Nutrition Society annual conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, suggests that many foods made from enriched (refined) grains and whole grains are important nutrient contributors to the Canadian diet. The University of Saskatchewan research project examined grain consumption patterns identified in the recently released 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) by Statistics Canada.
The early findings reveal that consumption patterns of grain foods made from whole grains and enriched non-whole grains deliver a considerable amount of some key nutrients to the diet (43% of folate, 39% of iron, and 31% of dietary fiber), while only contributing 25% of the daily calories. The researchers found that adults and young Canadians who consume grain foods in general have a higher daily intake of dietary fiber and nutrients such as folate, iron, and some B vitamins, compared to those who do not eat grain foods.
In addition, the researchers found that the body mass index (BMI) of people who eat grains is not different from the BMI of people who do not eat grains, suggesting that eliminating grain foods from diets is not associated with the BMI.
According to lead researcher Hassan Vatanparast, associate professor in the University of Saskatchewan, Colleges of Pharmacy and Nutrition and School of Public Health, the CCHS data show that nearly 80% of Canadian adults are not eating the current Canada’s Food Guide (2007) recommendations of 6–7 servings of grains a day. “But the grain foods they do consume are contributing important sources of some key nutrients and those individuals who do not consume grains may be at risk for these important nutrients, such as folic acid, some B vitamins, and iron.”
While benefits of whole grain foods such as oats, quinoa, and whole wheat bread are well documented, there’s less research supporting the benefits of enriched grain foods (sometimes referred to as refined grains) such as white bread, pasta, and cereals.
“In fact, our research showed that most of the grain foods that Canadians consume are actually made from enriched grains, such as breads, cereals, and pastas, which help adults and children to close nutrient recommendations gaps,” said Vatanparast.