Legume Consumption Patterns in US Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2014 and Beans, Lentils, Peas (BLP) 2017 Survey

Abstract

Given the emerging health benefits of regular legume consumption, we hypothesized that the historically low legume consumption levels in US adults increased. We evaluated legume consumption patterns in US adults using cross-sectional data from the 2011–2012 and 2013–2014-year cycles of National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) and a 2017 cross-sectional, online survey of Oregon families named “Beans, Lentils, Peas (BLP) Survey”. We also compared legume consumption patterns between consumers below US dietary recommendations for mature legumes (<37.5 g/day, marginal), below levels showing nutritional and disease-prevention benefits (37.5–87.49 g/day, recommended); and levels demonstrating nutritional and disease prevention benefits (≥87.5 g/day; beneficial). In NHANES, legume consumption remained low in US adults and declined from 2011 to 2014 (mature legumes: 12.8 to 8.3%; dry beans: 10.0 to 6.5%). In BLP, less than 5% consumed legumes daily; approximately one-third did not consume legumes during the last month. Marginal mature-legume consumers ate a limited variety of legumes (dry beans and green legumes on a weekly to monthly basis). Beneficial amount consumers ate mature legumes daily or every other day and included chickpeas, lentils and dry peas to their legume mix. Our data suggest that legume consumption declined in US adults, warranting improved communication about the benefits of regular legume consumption.

Pulses Twice a Week in Replacement of Meat Modestly Increases Diet Sustainability

“…Sodium intake was assessed in Canada only, and consumers of pulses had a higher sodium intake compared to non-consumers [ 58 ], in agreement with our results. However, conversely to our study in which individuals with an adequate diet for pulses were mostly men, gender was not associated with the consumption of pulses in other countries [ 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 ].…”

Pulse Intake Improves Nutrient Density among US Adult Consumers

“…Results showed an increase for the subcategory, but was attributable to increases in nuts and seeds and not legumes. In a more recent study using NHANES 2011–2014, 2-day median intake of pulses were the same across the 4-year period [ 17 ]. The only other evidence that intakes of legumes or pulses have changed very little are general reports on WWEIA, and NHANES data that compared total vegetable intake, which includes legumes, in 2003–2004 and 2015–2016 [ 18 ].…”

Diet Quality and Sociodemographic, Lifestyle, and Health-Related Determinants among People with Depression in Spain: New Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study (2011–2017)

“…This study also revealed that people with a self-reported diagnosis of depression who never or hardly ever consumed legumes had also decreased. For example, when legume consumption decreased among US adults, improved communication about their benefits was introduced [ 111 ].…”

“…It is vital for health authorities to take these findings into consideration when designing strategies to improve diet quality among individuals with depression. Although this research showed that the number of people who never or hardly ever consumed legumes and people who consumed soft drinks with sugar on a daily basis declined from 2011 to 2017, government agencies should persevere with their efforts to reduce the consumption of soft drinks with sugar due to its potential dangers for general health [ 117 ] and encourage people to consume more legumes for their health benefits [ 111 ]. Additionally, our findings of depressive people suggest that males, people aged 16–24 years old and 25–44 years, separated or divorced, and also smokers were more likely to have a poor or improvable diet quality.…”