Updated USDA Dietary Guidelines Released

[Guest guest]

Updated USDA Dietary Guidelines Released

Emma Hitt, PhD

January 31, 2011 — The seventh edition of the US Department of Agriculture

guidelines for healthy eating were released online today and include 23 key

recommendations for all Americans, as well as 6 additional recommendations for

specific population groups.

US Department of Agriculture dietary guidelines were first developed in the

United States in 1980, and the previous (sixth edition) guidelines were released

in January 2005. For the latest guidelines, a panel of 13 nutrition experts was

convened to determine whether revisions were warranted, and to provide

suggestions.

Van Horn, PhD, RD, LD, from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois,

chaired the 13-member Dietary Guideline Advisory Committee. For 18 months, the

committee reviewed the scientific and medical literature regarding the role of

diet and nutrition in health promotion and disease prevention.

" The overarching differences include emphases on managing body weight through

all life stages and on proper nutrition for children throughout, " the authors

note. " Also, research on eating patterns is incorporated for the first time, and

the eating patterns presented now include vegetarian adaptations, " they add.

The report, which includes recommendations for Americans aged 2 years and older,

as well as those at increased risk of chronic disease, incorporates 2 new

chapters: " The Total Diet: Combining Nutrients, Consuming Food " and " Translating

and Integrating the Evidence: A Call to Action. "

" Taken together, the Dietary Guidelines recommendations encompass two

overarching concepts, " Dr. Van Horn and colleagues write in the executive

summary. These are to " maintain calorie balance over time to achieve and sustain

a healthy weight, " and to " focus on consuming nutrient-dense foods and

beverages. "

With respect to maintaining calorie balance and a healthy weight, the authors

suggest that " people who are most successful at achieving and maintaining a

healthy weight do so through continued attention to consuming only enough

calories from foods and beverages to meet their needs and by being physically

active. "

They add that a healthy eating pattern " limits intake of sodium, solid fats,

added sugars, and refined grains and emphasizes nutrient-dense foods and

beverages. " These include " vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat

milk and milk products, seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, beans and peas,

and nuts and seeds. "

Some Foods and Nutrients Should Decrease, Some Should Increase

The new guidelines specifically suggest decreasing the intake of various foods

and nutrients, including limiting sodium to 1500 mg in about half the US

population. Consumption of saturated fats, dietary cholesterol, trans fatty

acids, solid fats, added sugars, and refined grains should all be limited. If

alcohol is consumed, it should be consumed in moderation, the guidelines state.

In contrast, intake of vegetables, fruits, grains, and fat-free and low-fat

dairy products should all be increased. Lean proteins including seafood, lean

meat and poultry, eggs, beans and peas, soy products, and unsalted nuts and

seeds should be emphasized.

The guidelines also suggest that foods providing more potassium, dietary fiber,

calcium, and vitamin D should be selected. " These foods include vegetables,

fruits, whole grains, and milk and milk products. "

Guidelines for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding or who wish to become

pregnant, as well as all individuals aged 50 years or older, are also included.

Professional Associations Respond to New Guidelines

Professional associations with a stake in nutrition have spoken out about the

new guidelines. The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) states in a

written release that it welcomes the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and

that it strongly supports the emphasis on plant-based diets.

" For years, the science on cancer risk has shown that diets emphasizing a

variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans are cancer-protective, "

notes Higginbotham, RD, PhD, director of research at AICR, in a statement.

" A plant-based diet means moderating meat intake, not eliminating it

altogether, " Dr. Higginbotham said. " We're thrilled to see obesity prevention,

and thus cancer prevention, being placed front-and-center, where they belong. "

However, the American Heart Association maintains that the new guidance for

sodium content is too high. Although the dietary recommendations advise people

at risk for high blood pressure or who already have hypertension to reduce daily

sodium intake to 1500 mg, the rest of the population is still advised to limit

intake to 2300 mg sodium per day.

" The [American Heart Association] recommends a daily sodium consumption limit of

less than 1500 mg a day for all Americans, and is concerned that this two-part

recommendation does not go far enough to protect the health of all Americans, "

the organization states in a news release.

Meanwhile the American Society of Nutrition congratulates the US Department of

Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services on issuance of the

2010 Dietary Guidelines.

American Society of Nutrition spokesperson Connie Weaver, PhD, who served on the

2005 Committee, notes that the " most impressive new aspect of the 2010 Dietary

Guidelines is the call to action for all sectors of the society to become

involved in ensuring that all Americans have access to nutritious foods and

opportunities for physical activity and to facilitate individual behavior change

through environmental strategies. "

No commercial support was involved in the current report. The authors have

disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

USDA. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. Released January 31, 201