Most people in the United States are not getting the recommended amounts of whole grains and dietary fiber, according to a recent study Reuters reported.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota found that children and adults who did eat the recommended three or more servings of whole grains each day also tended to consume the most fiber.
Whole grains include grains like wheat, corn, rice, oats, barley, quinoa, and present in some types of cereal and bread. Previous studies have linked whole grain intake to a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer among adults. The health benefits are in part attributed to the fiber in whole grains
"Most people do not consume whole grains in amounts that can be most beneficial, also many people, even health professionals, are confused about the relationship between whole grain and fiber," Marla Reicks told Fox News.
For the study, funded by General Mills, researchers compared whole grain and dietary fiber intakes of more than 9,000 people two and up using a large national nutrition and health survey from 2009 and 2010.
The study team found that only 3 percent of children and about 8 percent of adults ate at least the recommended three servings per day of whole grains. About 39 percent of children and teens and 42 percent of adults consumed no whole grains at all.
Researchers also found that people who ate the most whole grains had the highest fiber intakes. For example, children who ate the recommended amount of whole grains were 59 times more likely to be in the top third of fiber consumers, compared to those who ate no whole grains. Adults who met the whole grain recommendations were 76 times more likely to get the most fiber.
Major sources of whole grains for study participants included breakfast cereal, breads and rolls, oatmeal and popcorn.
Reicks said people should strive to eat whole grain versions of breads, oatmeal and breakfast cereals when possible.
"The study reinforces the preponderance of scientific evidence and supports the recommendations set forth by many dietary guidelines advisory committees within the U.S. and throughout the globe," Roger Clemens, adviser for the most recent government-backed U.S. dietary guidelines, told Fox News.
