After nearly two years of review and discussion, scientists charged with advising federal health and agriculture agencies on the next edition of dietary guidelines issued their report Tuesday, clarifying the role of food in health promotion and disease prevention.
It’s not quite food writer Michael Pollan’s famous “Eat food, not a lot, mostly plants” prescription, but it comes closer than the current guidance. The mantra the advisers want Americans to adopt: “Eat Healthy Your Way.”
The overarching theme of the 20-member committee’s report emphasizes consuming vegetables, fruits, legumes (as in beans, peas, lentils), whole grains, nuts, and fish and seafood throughout the lifespan. Low-fat and non-fat dairy (cow or alternative) as well as unsaturated fats are encouraged, while red or processed meats, saturated fats, and salty or sugary snacks are discouraged, along with sweetened beverages and foods. The 2020 guidelines had emphasized curbing added sugars and alcohol intake, in line with limits from the 2015-2020 edition.
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