U.S. nutrition experts have recommended that Americans increase their intake of plant-based foods such as beans, lentils, and peas while reducing consumption of red and processed meats, starchy vegetables, added sugars, sodium, and saturated fats.
These recommendations come from a panel of 20 experts tasked with advising the U.S. government on the upcoming 2025 dietary guidelines, which will influence federal food policies and programs.
However, the panel refrained from making specific recommendations about ultraprocessed foods, citing insufficient evidence. Despite studies linking ultraprocessed foods to obesity and other health issues, the quality of the research was deemed inadequate. Similarly, the panel opted not to update controversial alcohol consumption guidelines, leaving the matter for two forthcoming external reports.
Key Insights on Healthy Eating
The panel emphasized that a nutritious diet for individuals aged two and above should prioritize vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains, fish, and unsaturated vegetable oils. It should limit red and processed meats, sugar-laden foods and beverages, refined grains, and saturated fats. Low-fat or fat-free dairy products and plant-based foods were also highlighted as potential components of a healthy diet.
For the first time, the recommendations considered health equity, acknowledging factors like income, race, ethnicity, and cultural background to ensure inclusivity, according to Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, a member of the panel and obesity expert at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Ultraprocessed Foods and Alcohol: Unresolved Issues
Ultraprocessed foods, which comprise about 60% of the average American diet, were scrutinized, but the panel concluded that existing evidence was insufficient to recommend avoiding them. Meanwhile, alcohol guidelines remained unchanged, with the panel deferring to upcoming reports on the effects of moderate drinking.
In 2020, the U.S. government rejected previous advice to lower alcohol consumption limits, a decision that remains under scrutiny.
Challenges in Adopting Healthier Diets
The report acknowledged that most Americans fail to meet current dietary standards, with over half of U.S. adults suffering from diet-related chronic health conditions and 18 million households facing food insecurity. The panel cautioned that these trends pose significant risks to the nation's health.
Next Steps
The advisory report will guide the final version of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, set to be released next year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Public comments on the recommendations will be accepted for 60 days starting Wednesday, with a public meeting scheduled for January 16.
Dr. Peter Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, praised the recommendations as well-structured and encouraged their adoption.
Source: UNB
bd-pratidin/Rafid
