Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Last week, the federal government released the most recent version of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. These recommendations are traditionally updated every five years and are an opportunity for new research on healthy eating to be incorporated into recommendations for lawmakers and nutrition professionals by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The American Heart Association welcomes the new dietary guidelines and commends the inclusion of several important science-based recommendations, notably the emphasis on increasing the amount of fruit, vegetables and whole grains while limiting the amount of added sugar, refined grains, highly processed foods, saturated fats and sugary drinks. These all align with the longstanding guidance of the American Heart Association.

This also is an opportunity to discuss the scientific basis for certain recommendations. We are concerned that some of the recommendations for salt seasoning and red meat consumption could inadvertently lead people to eat too much sodium and saturated fat, both of which are primary drivers for cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association encourages the consumption of low-fat and fat-free dairy products, rather than whole fat dairy, for heart health benefits.

The American Heart Association is committed to working with both the federal government and consumers to promote healthy eating and fight cardiovascular disease. If you want to get more information about the AHA’s response to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, please see our full statement: New dietary guidelines underscore importance of healthy eating | American Heart Association.