Taking a closer look at dietary guidelines

Every five years the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services revise a list of Dietary Guidelines that are hailed as the foundation of healthy living for the average American. Unfortunately, the averageAmerican is unaware of what lies beneath this elusive title.

In creating the guidelines, what the government is really doing is sifting the facts from the often contradictory hype purported in the media. They’ve created a master list of positive lifestyle choices that, if followed, could prevent a host of diseases and begin to pull Americans out of the current obesity slump.

“Especially considering the epidemic of obesity we face in our country, people need all the help they can get in understanding the relationships between food consumption, a healthy diet, physical fitness and good health,” said Susan H. Laramee, president of the American Dietetic Association in 2005.

Although many of the suggestions listed in the dietary guidelines are common knowledge- “keep trans fatty acids as low as possible” and “Get enough exercise and healthy eating to balance calories taken in with calories burned to maintain a healthy weight”- experts emphasize the importance of integrating everything from the list.

Integration, they say, is where most individuals slip up.

“It is important to remember that these are integrated messages that should be implemented as a whole,” health officials say. “Taken together, they encourage most Americans to eat fewer calories, be more active, and make wiser food choices.”

The latest revision focuses more attention on the importance of consuming a variety of fruits and vegetables and the role of such foods in combating illness.

“The scientific evidence linking these foods to a host of health benefits is now overwhelming,” said Ritva Butrum, senior science advisor for the American Institute for Cancer Research.

Most Americans, the report says, fulfill their daily caloric quota before taking in the nutrients that are important to good health. Experts recommend that the process be reversed: consume nutrients first and fill in the blanks with a moderate amount of fatty foods.

“The keys are eating a variety of foods in moderation, paying attention to portion sizes and engaging in regular physical activity. Within this framework, all foods can fit into a healthful diet,” said Laramee.

If the average American is confused by the mixed messages she hears in regards to diet and fitness, the comprehensive list of dietary guidelines could be the key to fostering a healthier society.

“This exhaustively researched document is and should remain the basis of all efforts to improve public health in the United States,” said Butrum. “By expanding in scope to include convincing scientific evidence on diet and cancer prevention, the new Dietary Guidelines make the overall ‘take home’ public health message much simpler.”