USA Rice Federation’s news release, "U.S. Grown Rice Dishes Up Variety of Health Benefits," which announced publication of the “Healthy Rice Eaters” research study as the cover story in the October issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association (JADA), appeared on 201 online media news hubs  including Yahoo.com and Reuters. It also appeared on many television and print news Web sites as well as in several Twitter posts.  The release was sent to registered dietitians, supermarket consumer affairs directors and popular nutrition and health blogs.

The news release reports that, according to recent research published in JADA, eating rice helps improve overall diet and potentially reduces the risk for many chronic diseases — including obesity, cardiovascular disease and Type II diabetes.

"The data suggest that including rice as part of a healthful, balanced diet may be linked to overall healthier eating patterns, which is one of the most important preventive medicine strategies to help solve the nation’s health care crisis," the release says.

USA Rice commissioned Iowa State University to conduct the research in 2005 as part of the rice industry’s “Rice Fits” nutrition education campaign.  The October JADA issue will reach some 10,000 registered dietitians at next week’s American Dietetic Association annual meeting in Denver.