Re: A few comments on The US Dietary Guidelines

[Guest guest]

+1.. There are already complaints that the advice is too complex, but one guideline can't possibly be comprehensive for all ages, sexes, etc. They obviously try to address the larger general population deficiencies or excesses. SInce this may make some marginal difference in food choices they should have their feet held to the fire for any bad advice, while they are by definition guilty of incomplete advice suggesting one shoe fits all... -------http://www.shoppingblog.com/blog/6271018In an interesting counter point to mickey D using Shrek glasses to merchandise junk food, a recent advertising tie-in, using movie/cartoon character Shrek to promote onions, has children demanding vidalias promoted by him that are suddenly selling like hot cakes... Maybe this could be the start of new trend? Kids actually wanting to eat vegetables. I always thought the jolly green giant was a little too scary to promote healthy foods to young children. For the record, this Shrek promotion was done by onion farmers to make more money (I'm shocked), but I can still applaud the good result. JR On Jun 28, 2010, at 10:59 AM, Novick wrote:

http://www.latimes.com/news/health/la-he-dietary-guidelines-reaction-20100628,0,5292433,full.storyAnd here's an excerpt from Walt Willett:"...the recommendation for three servings of milk per day is not justified and is likely to cause harm to some people. The primary justification is bone health and reduction of fractures. However, prospective studies and randomized trials have consistently shown no relation between milk intake and risk of fractures. On the other hand, many studies have shown a relation between high milk intake and risk of fatal or metastatic prostate cancer, and this can be explained by the fact that milk intake increases blood levels of IGF-1, a growth-promoting hormone. The justification for drinking three glasses of milk per day on the basis of increasing potassium intake is also not valid as the extra calories, even with low-fat milk, would easily counterbalance the benefit of the extra potassium. Also, the recommendation for people of all ages to drink three servings of milk per day is very radical and would double dairy production if adopted; this would have huge environmental impacts that would need to be considered."and"The recommendation for high intake of lean meat is based on the large amount of heme iron in meat and the high prevalence of iron deficiency in premenopausal women, due to regular menstrual losses. [Heme iron, plentiful in meat and fish, is more readily absorbed by the body than non-heme iron, a chemically distinct form of iron found in lentils, beans and enriched grains.] But this recommendation is worrisome, as there is substantial evidence that high intake of heme iron may increase risks of diabetes, and there is also some evidence that red meat may increase risk of premenopausal breast cancer. Given the complexities and uncertainties, more caution would seem warranted. Non-heme iron, such as in an RDA multivitamin/multimineral, would probably be better because non-heme iron is not absorbed if iron stores are adequate, but heme iron is absorbed whether we need it or not."