At least 50 percent of grain products should consist of whole grains under a new international nutritional pyramid presented in the journal Advances in Nutrition.
An international research team including Anette Buyken from Paderborn University and Karen Della Corte from Brigham Young University developed the framework. The publication compiles existing national food recommendations from Germany, China, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, the United States, and Northern Europe, drawing on more than 250 specialist publications.
The model serves as scientific orientation for largely healthy individuals aged two and older, aligning closely with the Planetary Health Diet and recommendations from the German Nutrition Society (DGE). Plant-based foods form the foundation of the three central rules established in the model.
Plant-based foundations and carbohydrate quality
For protein and fat sources, the guidelines favor plant-based products such as legumes, nuts, and rapeseed and olive oil over meat and butter. The quality of consumed carbohydrates is treated as a decisive factor.
While the German Nutrition Society recommends a whole-grain share of at least one third, the international pyramid specifies that at least half of grain products must be whole grain. Animal products are limited to a maximum of about two portions daily, with red meat designated for rare consumption.
Potatoes and other tubers have a target quantity of about 50 grams daily, while sugary drinks are categorized as particularly unfavorable. The researchers did not investigate the health impacts of the pyramid in their own primary studies, and underlying works were not evaluated uniformly through identical criteria.
Breads with whole kernels stabilize blood sugar
The evaluation places a strong focus on carbohydrate quality and the glycemic index. Anette Buyken said that many German breads exhibit a relatively high glycemic index, whereas breads made with whole kernels act more favorably by causing less drastic blood sugar spikes.
“Günstiger wirken sich Brote mit ganzen Körnern aus, da sie den Blutzucker weniger drastisch ansteigen lassen,” Buyken told ad-hoc-news.de regarding the impact of whole kernel breads. Pasta made from durum wheat semolina, basmati rice, and parboiled rice also frequently show a lower glycemic index than many breads.
Karen Della Corte’s working group emphasized the influence of food processing methods on metabolic responses. When whole-grain flour is milled very finely, cell walls are destroyed, causing blood sugar levels to rise more rapidly than when intact grain kernels are consumed.
Diabetes cases are projected to increase in Germany
Approximately 589 million people worldwide live with diabetes, according to data cited by the research team.
In Germany, more than nine million people are affected, representing about seven percent of the population, with type 2 diabetes accounting for roughly 90 percent of those cases. Model projections from the German Diabetes Center and the Robert Koch Institute forecast an increase to up to 12 million individuals with type 2 diabetes in Germany over the next 20 years.
The principles summarized in the pyramid overlap significantly with dietary patterns designed to prevent cardiovascular risks. The DASH diet for hypertension emphasizes high proportions of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and legumes alongside reductions in saturated fats, sugar, and salt.
Vascular health and dietary standards
The American Heart Association recommends limiting daily sodium intake to a maximum of 2,300 milligrams, identifying 1,500 milligrams as an ideal target corresponding to roughly 5.8 and 3.8 grams of table salt respectively. The new international synthesis consolidates these approaches by centering on food processing levels and the preservation of natural fiber structures.
The guidelines do not function as an official global rulebook but as an overarching framework for dietary orientation.
References
- Buyken, A., et al. Advances in Nutrition.
- Della Corte, K., et al.
- German Diabetes Center and Robert Koch Institute.
- American Heart Association.
