Updated Dietary Guidelines and What They Mean for You
Written By Monae Byrne
January 2016
You’ve likely encountered numerous nutrition recommendations in the past, suggesting how many calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein, sugar, calcium, and iron is healthy. You’ve likely even seen the Food Guide Pyramid at some point in your life, suggesting you use fats, oils sparingly; load up on bread, cereal, rice, and pasta; and, ensure adequate amounts of fruits, dairy products, meat, and vegetables.
More recently the Food Guide Pyramid was replaced by MyPlate, a diagram recommending that half your plate be filled with fruits and vegetables, and the other half being comprised of whole grains. It also recommends that you make the switch from whole or 2% milk to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.
With all the confusion over what amounts of each food group is recommended, and which foods are considered “healthy” vs. “non-healthy,” making sense of it all has left many of us feeling frustrated and even a little dizzy!
The USDA continues to strive for creating the most effective and achievable guidelines for Americans. As such, the Dietary Guidelines continue to be emphasized by health professionals as a roadmap for preventing disease and attaining optimal health.
In 2015, the Dietary Guidelines were updated and released to the public in an effort to inform Americans of modern-day nutrition recommendations. These guidelines include:
1. Follow a healthy eating pattern across the lifespan—emphasizing healthy eating patterns, including getting appropriate levels of calories each day is necessary to support weight, maintain health and prevent disease.
2. Focus on variety, nutrient density, and serving amounts—eating a variety of nutrient-dense foods from all food groups within the recommended caloric range.
3. Limit calories from added sugars and saturated fats and reduce sodium intake—cutting back on high-sugar foods and beverages, along with unhealthy saturated fats and excessive sodium is optimal.
4. Shift to healthier food and beverage choices—replacing foods with unhealthy ingredients with those that are nutrient-dense is a vital part of achieving optimal health. Part of accomplishing this is through an increased understanding of cultural and personal preferences.
5. Support healthy eating patterns for all—regardless of the setting, all individuals should have access to healthy food items, whether in the workplace, school setting, or within the community.
Some KEYPOINTS to consider:
The primary changes in the current 2015 guidelines emphasize the importance of improved weight management aimed at preventing chronic disease—including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and various types of cancer. Previous guidelines focused primarily on individual nutrient and food groups (i.e., carbohydrates, fats, proteins, dairy, meat, grains, etc.). New guidelines promote overall healthy eating patterns, where sugar and sodium are modified, and beverages are highlighted as contributing to the daily caloric value. In plain sight, this means—eat to maintain a healthy weight throughout your lifespan; focus on nutrient-dense and quality foods; limit your intake of saturated fats, added sugars, and sodium; focus on choosing healthier alternatives to your food and beverages; and, ensure your community promotes healthy eating for all individuals.
For more detailed information, please visit:
http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/
Source:
http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/
