new Dietary Guidelines Emphasize plant-Based Foods, Reduce Red adn Processed Meats
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A panel of nutrition experts has issued fresh recommendations urging Americans to embrace a diet rich in beans, peas, lentils, and other plant-based foods while cutting back on red and processed meats, starchy vegetables, and foods high in added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat. these guidelines, unveiled Tuesday, will shape the 2025 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, influencing federal food programs and public health policies.
The 20-member advisory committee, tasked with advising the U.S. government on nutrition,emphasized the importance of a balanced diet that prioritizes whole,unprocessed foods. Though, the panel refrained from making specific recommendations on ultraprocessed foods, citing insufficient evidence, and deferred updates on alcohol consumption to forthcoming external reports.
“This looks like every other set of dietary guidelines since 1980: eat your veggies and reduce consumption of foods high in salt, sugar and saturated fat,” said Marion Nestle, a renowned food policy expert. “This particular statement says nothing about balancing calories, when overconsumption of calories, especially from ultra-processed foods, is the biggest challenge to the health of Americans.”
Key Recommendations for a Healthy Diet
The advisory panel outlined a dietary framework for individuals aged 2 and older, emphasizing a diet higher in vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains, fish, and vegetable oils rich in unsaturated fats. Conversely, the panel advised reducing intake of red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, refined grains, and saturated fats.The guidelines also suggested incorporating fat-free or low-fat dairy and foods lower in sodium, while promoting plant-based options.
For the first time, the committee approached dietary recommendations thru a “health equity lens,” considering factors such as income, race, ethnicity, and cultural backgrounds. Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford,an obesity expert at Massachusetts general Hospital and a member of the panel,explained that this approach ensures the guidelines are inclusive and reflective of diverse populations.
“It will help ensure that the guidance reflects and includes various population groups,” Dr. Stanford said in an email.
ultraprocessed Foods and Alcohol: Areas of Uncertainty
While ultraprocessed foods—such as snacks, sugary cereals, and frozen meals—make up about 60% of the American diet, the panel stopped short of advising against them. After reviewing over 40 studies linking ultraprocessed foods to obesity and other health issues, the experts expressed concerns about the quality of the research, concluding that the evidence was too limited to draw firm conclusions.
Similarly, the panel opted not to update guidance on alcohol consumption, leaving that task to two external reports expected to be released soon. This decision may spark debate, notably considering Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to lead the U.S. Department of Health and human Services, as Kennedy has previously questioned the safety of certain food additives and ultraprocessed foods.
What’s Next for the Dietary Guidelines?
The recommendations released Tuesday are part of a broader process that will culminate in the final 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. These guidelines will serve as a cornerstone for federal nutrition programs, school meal initiatives, and public health campaigns, aiming to improve the health of Americans and reduce the prevalence of diet-related diseases.
As the debate over ultraprocessed foods and alcohol continues, experts and policymakers will be watching closely to see how these recommendations evolve and impact public health strategies in the coming years.
For more updates on nutrition and health, stay tuned to World Today News.
/opinion/trump-can-make-america-healthy-again-rfk-jr-reforms-chronic-disease-crisis-a9b4b8c0″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>potential conflicts of interest among members of the dietary guidelines panel and vowed to crack down on ultraprocessed foods that contribute to chronic disease.The panel also didn’t revise recommendations that suggest limiting alcohol intake to two drinks or less a day for men and one drink or less a day for women.
in 2020, the last time the guidance was updated, the government rejected the advice of scientific advisers to recommend less alcohol consumption.
Two groups — the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine and a committee of the government agency that oversees substance abuse — are expected to release reports in the coming months on the effects of moderate alcohol use to inform the guidelines.
Do Americans follow dietary guidelines?
The advisory panel acknowledged that the diets of most Americans don’t meet the current guidelines. More than half of all U.S.adults have one or more diet-related chronic health conditions and 18 million U.S. households have insecure sources of food, according to the report.
“Nutrition-related chronic health conditions and their precursors continue to threaten health through the lifespan,” the report concludes. “Which does not bode well for the future of health in the United States.”
What happens next?
The scientific report informs the dietary guidelines, which are updated every five years. Tuesday’s recommendations now go to HHS and the Agriculture Department,where officials will draft the final guidance set for release next year.
Starting Wednesday, the public will have 60 days to comment on the guidance. HHS and USDA officials will hold a public meeting Jan. 16 to discuss the recommendations.
The new guidance, which will be finalized by the incoming Trump management, is consistent with decades of federal efforts to reduce diet-related disease in the U.S., said dr.Peter Lurie, president of the advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest.
“Broadly,I think these are well-formulated recommendations that the incoming administration would do well to adopt,” Lurie said.
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