Rice eaters have healthier diets- study

13/04/05 People who eat rice have healthier diets, eat more fruits and vegetables, consume less added sugar and fat and are likely to have a lower body mass index than non-rice eaters, according to a new study presented for the first time today at a meeting of two key member groups of the American Dietetic Association.

The data suggest that including rice as part of a healthy, balanced diet can be linked to overall healthier eating patterns. The data also indicate that the rice eaters are more likely to eat a diet consistent with the 2005 U.S. Dietary Guidelines.

The study looked at the 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the most current nationally representative government data, along with the most recent Continuing Survey of Food Intake of Individuals (CSFII), from 1994-1996, which included over 35,000 Americans, to obtain a representative sample of the U.S. population. The survey identified those who consumed at least half a serving of white or brown rice and how rice consumers' diets differ from the diets of non-rice eaters.

The diets of rice eaters are more consistent with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines which recommend that Americans eat a healthy balance of nutrient- dense foods, increase consumption of vegetables and fruits, limit saturated and trans fats, sodium and cholesterol, and watch their caloric intake. The Guidelines also recommend that people consume three or more ounce-equivalents of whole grain products, such as brown rice, per day, with the rest of the recommended grains coming from enriched or whole-grain products, such as white rice. A half cup of brown or white rice equals one ounce-equivalent.