In 2015, the U. S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) came to conclusions that are consistent with those of most nutrition experts, “On average, current dietary patterns are too low in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and low-fat dairy, and too high in refined grains, saturated fat, added sugars, and sodium.” The 2015 DGAC found that overconsumption by the U.S. population of two nutrients—sodium and saturated fat—poses health risks. High consumption of sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, and refined grains, was also identified by the 2015 DGAC as detrimental to health and concluded that there was moderate to strong evidence that higher intake of red and processed meat was detrimental to health compared to lower intake.
In 2020, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (2020 DGAC) released an updated report to provide the basis for the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans that is scheduled to be released late in 2020. The 2020 committee report confirmed the conclusions of the 2015 report, noting that Americans over consume calories, saturated fats, sodium, added sugars, and some Americans over consume alcohol.
The 2020 DGAC confirmed that “Common characteristics of dietary patterns associated with positive health outcomes include higher intake of vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, low- or non-fat dairy, lean meat and poultry, seafood, nuts, and unsaturated vegetable oils and low consumption of red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened foods and drinks, and refined grains.” The Committee also found that higher intake of red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, and refined grains had negative consequences for health.
The Committee recommended a shift from saturated to unsaturated fats within the context of a healthy dietary pattern consisting of higher intakes of vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, with some vegetable oils, low-fat dairy, lean meat and poultry, and fatty fish and lower intakes of red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened foods and drinks, and refined grains.
This blog presents opinions and ideas and is intended to provide helpful general information. I am not engaged in rendering advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas, procedures and suggestions in that are presented are not in any way a substitute for the advice and care of the reader’s own physician or other medical professional based on the reader’s own individual conditions, symptoms or concerns. If the reader needs personal medical, health, dietary, exercise or other assistance or advice the reader should consult a physician and/or other qualified health professionals. The author specifically disclaims all responsibility for any injury, damage or loss that the reader may incur as a direct or indirect consequence of following any directions or suggestions given in the book or participating in any programs described in this blog or in the book, The Building Blocks of Health––How to Optimize Wellness with a Lifestyle Checklist. References for most of the health related information in this blog can be found in the book, The Building Blocks of Health now available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Building-Blocks-Health-Lifestyle-Checklist-ebook/dp/B08RC3XRCY/. Copyright 2020 by J. Joseph Speidel.
Recent Comments