News: The Government's "Embarrassing" New Diet

Just in time to help with your New Year's resolution to eat more healthily, the government released the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for American – yep, they won't be revised for another five years. Sugar should take up no more than ten percent of your daily calories, there's no longer a limit on cholesterol intake, men and women can drink two and one alcoholic drinks per day respectively, and it's recommended that you keep salt to just one teaspoon per day. About.com Expert and director of Yale University's Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center David Katz called the guidelines "a national embarrassment." Why? Many of the terms, like "nutrient dense foods" and "food groups" are not defined, and while we're advised to limit saturated fat, virtually no specific language is used in regards to which foods we should eat less of or exclude – and the guidelines even OK processed meat, so long as we respect nutrient thresholds. According to Katz, the government is not excluding specific foods (like beef and pork) to avoid political conflicts with food lobbies.

Someone forward you this email? No Sweat! Sign up here to get your own If you're having trouble viewing this email, click here Follow Us News: The Government's "Embarrassing" New Diet Just in time to help with your New Year's resolution to eat more healthily, the government just released the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for American – yep, they won't be revised for another five years. Sugar should take up no more than ten percent of your daily calories, there’s no longer a limit on cholesterol intake, men and women can drink two and one alcoholic drinks per day respectively, and it’s recommended that you keep salt to just one teaspoon per day. About.com Expert and director of Yale University's Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center Dr. David Katz called the guidelines "a national embarrassment." Why? Many of the terms, like “nutrient dense foods” and “food groups” are not defined, and while we’re advised to limit saturated fat, virtually no specific language is used in regards to which foods we should eat less of or exclude – and the guidelines even OK processed meat, so long as we respect nutrient thresholds. According to Katz, the government is not excluding specific foods (like beef and pork) to avoid political conflicts with food lobbies.  Nicholas English Content Manager of About.com Health David Katz: What Makes a Healthy Diet Isn't Really This Confusing READ NOW The Common Ground of Healthy Eating We Can All Agree On    READ NOW Should Humans Eat Meat at All?    READ NOW Food That Prevents 80 Percent of Chronic Disease READ NOW Trending Now • What If My Breasts Are Too Dense? • The Top 5 Reasons for Rectal Bleeding • 12 Ways to Rid Yourself of Acid Reflux • The Workout Moves You Can Do Right at Your Desk • 15 Healthy Snacks You Can Take to Work • One Secret to Boosting Your Metabolism • How Do I Know If It's a Stroke or a Seizure? Advertisement About Health  |  Follow Us You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Health newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York, NY, 10036 © 2016 About.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.