Nutrition News & Views

February 28, 2000
Sneak Preview - New Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2000-February 2000/No. 3

The government is trying a more upbeat approach to getting Americans to eat right and watch their weight. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Sciences recently released their report of the "New Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2000." These Guidelines, written by an 11-member expert panel and mandated by Congress, are expected to be finalized later this year. They are not expected to change significantly. Unlike the previous editions of the Guidelines, this newer edition is more positive and encourages seven areas of choice. It emphasizes variety in food selections along with balance and moderation.

The panel suggests that oversimplification of the message about fat has contributed to the rise in obesity in the United States. The proposed Guidelines represent the first time a distinction has been made between good fat and bad fat. Instead of reducing fat in their diets, Americans would be advised to avoid dangerous fats - such as those found in some meat, poultry, and whole milk dairy products and the trans fatty acids in many baked goods. The Guidelines will also encourage one to eat moderate amounts of "healthy" fats, such as those in olive oil, fresh fish, lean meat and poultry and low-fat dairy products.

The most important change made in the Dietary Guidelines will be the inclusion of recommendations for physical activity. To encourage weight reduction and fitness, the new Guidelines will recommend 30 minutes of daily exercise for all adults. For children the recommendation will be for 60 minutes of physical activity on most days. The Guidelines will encourage combining exercise with healthy eating habits to manage weight and stay healthy. The Guidelines will also now include recommendations on portion control and safe food handling.

While not intended as a recommendation to start drinking alcohol, the new Guidelines will incorporate the age groups that may benefit from drinking alcohol in moderation. Moderate drinking may lower risk for coronary heart disease, mainly among men over age 45 and women over age 55. The Guidelines define moderate consumption as no more than one drink per day for non-pregnant women and no more than two drinks per day for men. Moderate consumption provides little, if any, health benefit for younger people.

Due to the growing ethnic diversity of the American public, the new Guidelines will highlight how Asian and Hispanic foods fit into the Food Guide Pyramid. Non-traditional foods, such as tofu and calcium-fortified soy milk, are now recommended alongside more traditional foods.

The new Dietary Guidelines will contain wording that is more positive and emphasize that all foods can fit into a healthy diet if consumed in moderation. For more details, you can access the Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2000 on the web.

Submitted by Kimberly Grabert, MSU Dietetic Intern
Distributed by Barbara McLaurin, Ph.D., R.D., L.D., Human Nutrition Specialist, MSU Extension Service, February 2000

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