Source-newsroom
A groundbreaking study revealing the benefits of pulses for children’s diets will be showcased at the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior’s (SNEB) International Conference 2024, set to take place on July 30, 2024, at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The research, scheduled for presentation from 4:30 to 5:30 PM ET, explores the significant health benefits linked to increased pulse consumption in American children. SNEB, an esteemed global organization dedicated to nutrition education and health promotion, envisions fostering healthier communities through better food systems and behaviors.
Pulses for Children’s Diets: Study Details and Findings
Utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning from 2001 to 2018, researchers investigated the dietary patterns of American children concerning pulse consumption, including beans, peas, and lentils. The study aimed to evaluate nutrient deficiencies and overall diet quality among children who regularly consumed pulses compared to those who did not. The findings reveal that children consuming around two servings of pulses daily demonstrated notably higher diet quality scores compared to their non-pulse-consuming peers. These children also showed significant improvements in dietary fiber, potassium, and choline intake.
The study, funded by Cannedbeans.org, Bush’s Best, and the Coalition for the Advancement of Pulses, underscores that pulses, despite being under-consumed in the U.S., offer crucial micronutrients and should be incorporated into children’s diets once solid foods are introduced. The research highlights that a diet rich in pulses, including varieties like kidney beans, black beans, pinto beans, and chickpeas, is associated with higher diet quality scores.
Health Implications and Expert Commentary:
The research also indicates that dietary patterns abundant in pulses particularly when focusing on pulses for children’s diets are linked to substantial health benefits. These include a 24% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, a 31% lower risk of coronary heart disease, a 20% decrease in stroke risk, a 23% reduction in diabetes risk, and a 6% decrease in cancer risk.
Tim McGreevy, CEO of USA Pulses, emphasized the importance of these findings, stating, “This research supports the growing body of evidence that consumption of pulses may have numerous nutrient and public health benefits.” McGreevy also noted that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 and USDA’s Choose My Plate recommend incorporating beans, chickpeas, peas, and lentils into the vegetable or protein groups for optimal health.
