The proportion of the population whose diet meets the official recommendation for the intake of whole grains has also grown significantly. Far more children than adults eat enough whole grains.
According to official recommendations, Danes should eat 75g of whole grains for every 10 MJ of energy they consume. The National Food Institute, in cooperation with Fuldkornspartnerskabet (the Whole Grain Partnership), has examined how big Danes’ whole grain intake is.
The results show that there has been a significant increase in whole grain intake over the last 10 years. In 2011-2013, the whole grain content in the average diet throughout the whole population was 63g/10 MJ. By comparison, the figure was only 36g/10 MJ in 2000-2004.
This equates to Danes on average now eating 84% of the recommended whole grain intake. However, only 30% of the population in 2011 to 2013 daily ate the recommended 75g or more of whole grain per 10 MJ. Even so, this is an increase from 6% in 2000-2004.
“It is pleasing to see that the dietary intake of whole grains has increased so dramatically in 10 years, as whole grains help to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and some forms of cancer,” said senior advisor Heddie Mejborn.
Despite the positive development, Mejborn stresses that many Danes still need more whole grains in their daily diet: “The survey shows that we have come really far, but it’s still only approximately every other child and every fourth adult who eats enough whole grains.”
The intake of whole grains can be in the form of various whole grain products such as oatmeal, bread or whole grain pasta. It is important to eat different kinds of whole grains, because the different grains contain different nutrients.
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