Low quality carbohydrates account for 42% of the calories of a day

Despite years of advice and sound advice on healthy eating, a "report card" on the American diet shows that adults still consume too much low-grade carbohydrate and saturated fats beyond recommendations, according to reports. researchers at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. at Tufts University and Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. The study, published today in JAMA, examined dietary trends over a period of 18 years.

Although the study identified some dietary improvements, it also revealed that low quality carbohydrates from refined grains, starches and added sugars accounted for 42% of an American's daily calories. High quality carbohydrates, from whole grains and whole fruits, accounted for only 9%. During the study period:

• Total carbohydrate intake decreased by 2% and Americans were able to reduce 3% of low quality carbohydrates. However, the consumption of healthier and higher quality carbohydrates only increased by 1%.
• Total fat intake increased by 1%, half of which was saturated fat. Total intake of saturated fat accounted for 12% of daily calories, which is greater than the recommended daily amount of 10%.

The study authors noted that food improvements were less pronounced among seniors and those with lower incomes or with lower levels of education:

• High-income adults reduced their intake of low-grade carbohydrates by 4% over the study period, but those living below the poverty line only reduced their consumption by 2%.
• Although most Americans have better adhered to diet guidelines, there has been no improvement in adults over 50 years of age, those who have not completed high school and high school. those living below the poverty line.

"While there are some encouraging signs that the US diet has improved slightly over time, we are still far from having an" A "in this newsletter.Our study tells us where we need to improve for the future, "said lead author, Fang Zhang Fang, epidemiologist in nutrition at the Friedman School of Science and Nutrition Policy of Tufts University. "These results also underscore the need for interventions to reduce socio-economic differences in the quality of food, so that all Americans can enjoy the health benefits of improved nutrition." . "

The study analyzed consumption patterns of specific nutrients, such as vegetable protein and saturated fatty acids, which researchers say would provide information on how changes in food sources could have effects beneficial to health.

"For example, most protein consumed by Americans came from meat, including red and processed meat.Protein consumed from seafood and healthy plant sources, such as whole grains, nuts and legumes, have been much lower, "said the Vice-President. Shilpa Bhupathiraju, senior author, researcher at Harvard TH School of Public Health Chan, also with the Harvard Medical School and Brigham Hospital and Women's. "Our research suggests that Americans have the opportunity to diversify their protein sources to include more seafood, beans, soy products, nuts and seeds."

"Because poor carbohydrates are associated with a risk of illness, taking better carbohydrates could mean better health for Americans in the future," said the first author of the study, Zhilei Shan, researcher in nutritional epidemiology at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. At the time of this study, he was also working under the auspices of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.

The study examined diets of 43,996 adults using data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES). Participants are representative of the national adult population and have completed at least one valid 24-hour dietary recall of nine consecutive cycles of NHANES (1999 to 2016). The researchers used USDA's USDDDS database to estimate nutrient intake. Researchers used the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) -2015 to measure compliance with the 2015-2020 nutritional recommendations for Americans.

The limitations of the study include the fact that self-reported food recall data are prone to measurement errors due to daily changes in food intake, but steps have been taken to improve estimates.