Beans and pulses can be improved

Moscow, Idaho, October 3, 2024: New research showing the relationship between increased bean and pulse consumption and improved micronutrient intake and higher diet quality in American adults will be presented during the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ (the Academy) 2024 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Minneapolis. , MN. The poster session is scheduled for Tuesday, October 8, 2024, from 10:45 – 11:45 AM CT at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Researchers assessed the effect of increased bean and pulse consumption, in the typical US dietary pattern, on micronutrient intake and diet quality outcomes. According to the findings, dietary patterns rich in beans and pulses are associated with significantly higher diet quality scores and greater intakes of scarce nutrients, including nutrients of public health concern. Pulses are the edible seeds of plants in the legume family. Pulses grow in pods and come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors and include beans, peas, chickpeas, and lentils. For this study, the composite included canned and dried kidney beans, black beans, chickpeas, pinto beans (beans).

Effect of Nutrient Deficiencies

Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2018, the analyzes modeled the intake of one and two servings of beans (as outlined above) among adults. Results show that consuming more beans is associated with significant increases in several deficient nutrients, including dietary fiber, potassium, magnesium, iron, folate, and choline.

Impact on Diet Quality

Additionally, adding 1 to 2 servings of beans to the usual dietary pattern per day significantly increased overall diet quality, as assessed by the USDA Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015). In fact, HEI-2015 total scores were 15% higher with an additional serving of beans and 19% higher with 2 servings of beans, relative to the typical US dietary pattern.

Among both younger and older adults, this evaluation showed that beans significantly increased the daily intake of dietary fiber.^iv This is critical since less than 1 in 10 US adults meet fiber recommendations to maintain optimal digestive health and prevent chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and certain cancers .[i] In addition, most adults in the US are not meeting potassium recommendations.[ii] According to the American Heart Association[iii]^,[iv]“Foods with potassium can help control blood pressure by mitigating the effects of sodium and the more potassium you eat, the more sodium you process out of the body.”

“This research clearly shows that eating beans and pulses is good, but eating more is better,” says study author Yanni Papanikolaou, of Nutritional Strategies Inc. protein that also provides iron and zinc like other protein foods.” The study was funded by Cannedbeans.org on behalf of Bush’s Best and the Coalition to Advance Pulses.

Beans and pulses remain under-consumed in the United States, with more than 80% of the population below the recommendations.[v] Consumption data show that beans, peas, and legumes are consumed in relatively small amounts, at an average of 0.1 cup per day.[vi] Research recently published in April and June 2024 shows that dietary patterns rich in canned and dried kidney beans, black beans, pinto beans and/or chickpeas are associated with significantly higher diet quality scores.[vii]^,[viii] The highest diet quality scores are associated with a 24% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, a 31% reduced risk of coronary heart disease, a 20% reduced risk of stroke, a 23% reduced risk of diabetes, and a 6% reduced risk of cancer. [ix]

“This research supports the growing body of evidence that consumption of beans and pulses may have multiple nutritional and public health benefits,” said Tim McGreevy, CEO of USA Pulses. “In fact, pulses are so nutritious that they were recently listed on DietaryGuidelines.gov as one of the highest sources of potassium, iron and fiber, three nutrients of concern, in the latest professional health resources.”

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Poster Presentation Details

Title: Greater Pulse Consumption in Children Is Associated with Higher Diet Quality and Improved Lack of Nutrient Intake

Authors: Yanni Papanikolaou, Joanne Slavin, Sophia Papanikolaou, Victor L. Fulgoni, III
Session Date and Time: Tuesday, October 8, 10:45 – 11:45 AM CT

Location: Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

All abstracts will be published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics September 2024 FNCE Abstract Supplement.

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CONCERNING THE COUNCIL FOR THE PROMOTION OF POOLS

The Pulse Promotion Alliance (CAP) is an initiative led by the American Pulse Association (APA) with support from the US Dry Pea and Linseed Council (USADPLC), the US Dry Bean Council (USDBC), and the Pulse Foundation. The CAP coalition represents a collective group of pulse crop growers, processors, manufacturers and related organisations. CBT is committed to increasing the consumption of pulses in the United States by increasing research on the nutritional benefits of pulses and increasing awareness of the many health benefits of pulses. For more information visit usapulses.org or contact CAP@usapulses.org

ABOUT CANNEDBEANS.ORG

Cannedbeans.org, sponsored by Bush’s Best®, is a category-based marketing campaign focused on promoting the universal health benefits of canned beans regardless of brand. Containing fiber, protein and iron, canned beans make it easy to add more plants to your diet and help people live longer, healthier lives. For more information, check out the latest tools, recipes and resources below to learn more about the benefits of canned beans at www.cannedbeans.org.

CONCERNING THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND NUTRITION

Representing more than 112,000 accredited nutrition and dietetics practitioners, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Academy is committed to improving the health of the nation and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy.

[i] US Department of Agriculture; US Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025, 9th ed.; 2020. Available online: https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf (accessed 4 April 2023).

[ii] National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2019. Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25353. Available online: http://nap.edu/25353 (accessed 17 September 2023).

[iii] American Heart Association. How Potassium Can Help Control High Blood Pressure. Available online: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/changes-you-can-make-to-manage-high-blood-pressure/how-potassium-can -help -control-high-blood-pressure (accessed 20 September 2023).

[iv] American Heart Association. A Primer on Potassium. Available online: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sodium/potassium (accessed 20 September 2023).

[v] US Department of Agriculture; US Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025, 9th ed.; 2020. Available online: https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf (accessed 4 April 2023).

[vi] Proprietary data calculated by Bush’s Best and based in part on data reported by NIQ through its Syndicate database for the Women category (branded only) for the most recent 52 weeks ending 4/29/23, for Total US xAOC (sales in the Food, Drug , Mass, Club, Dollar, and Military channels), according to the standard NIQ product hierarchy. Copyright © 2023, Nielsen Consumer LLC.

[vii] Papanikolaou, Y., Slavin, Papanikolaou, S., J., Fulgoni, VLIII, Adding more beans to the typical US dietary pattern leads to greater intake of micronutrients and higher diet quality among younger adults and older, Maturitas, Volume 186 , August 2024, 108012

[viii] Papanikolaou, Y., Slavin, J. & Fulgoni, VL Adults’ dietary patterns with increased bean consumption are associated with greater overall nutrient intake, less added sugar, improved weight-related outcomes and greater diet quality better. Nutr J 2336 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-024-00937-1

[ix] ML McCullough, D. Feskanich, MJ Stampfer, EL Giovannucci, EB Rimm, FB Hu, D. Spiegelman, DJ Hunter, GA Colditz, WC Willett. Diet quality and major chronic disease risk in men and women: Moving toward improved dietary guidance. Am J Clin Nutr. 76 (2002) 1261-1271.