Positive Attitudes and Reasons for Consuming Legumes Are Associated with Legume Intake Among Adults in Puerto Rico

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Legumes are a healthy staple of the traditional Puerto Rican diet. Emphasizing legume intake could be a culturally acceptable strategy for chronic disease prevention in Puerto Rico. This study aimed to investigate attitudes, reasons, intentions, and expectations about legume consumption in Puerto Rico and associations with dietary intake. Methods This study includes adult participants (30–75y) from the Puerto Rico Assessment of Diet, Lifestyle and Diseases, who completed a validated food frequency questionnaire and a legumes questionnaire (n = 206). Attitudes and reasons were assessed with a Likert scale and assigned 0 points for disagree, 1 point for neutral, and 2 points for agree. Scores were computed by summing the points for 12 attitudes or 12 reasons; higher scores indicate more positive attitudes and stronger reasons for consuming legumes. Adjusted linear regression models examined associations between each score and bean intake, rice intake, and ratio of bean to rice intake. Adjusted logistic regression models tested the associations between specific intentions and expectations about legume consumption and bean intake. Results Most participants were female (70%), Puerto Rican (80%), and lived in urban areas (90%). Participants reported consuming a median of 0.47 servings/d of beans and 0.57 servings/d of rice. After adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, each additional positive attitude was associated with a 0.08 (95% CI: 0.04, 0.1) servings/d higher bean intake and 0.66 (95% CI: 0.04, 1.28) higher ratio of bean to rice intake. Each additional reason to consume legumes was associated with a 0.04 (95% CI: 0.004, 0.06) servings/d higher bean intake. No other significant associations were observed for the attitudes or reasons scores, nor for expectations or intentions to consume legumes. Conclusions Having positive attitudes and more reasons for consuming legumes are associated with higher bean intake. Positive attitudes are also associated with a higher ratio of bean to rice intake. Interventions aiming to increase legume intake to prevent cardiometabolic disease in Puerto Rico should emphasize building positive attitudes and reasons for consuming legumes. Funding Sources Anonymous donations; Northarvest Bean Growers Association; FDI Clinical Research; and National Institutes of Health.