New Dietary Guidelines
Reported January 14, 2005
(Ivanhoe Newswire)
— According to the American Dietetic Association, the newly released 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans provides valuable and realistic recommendations based on the latest scientific research to help people eat well and stay healthy.
Compared with the Dietary Guidelines from 2000, the latest release places a greater emphasis on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These foods are naturally high in nutrients and low in calories.
ADA president Susan H. Laramee says the guidelines emphasize the overall pattern of food consumed. She says: “The keys are eating a variety of foods in moderation, paying attention to portion sizes, and engaging in regular activity. Within this framework, all foods can fit into a healthful diet.”
Laramee says the next step is getting the message out to consumers. She says, “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.”
The Dietary Guidelines will set the nation’s policy direction for the next five years for all government nutrition programs. This includes research, education, food assistance, labeling, and nutrition promotion. The Guidelines will also be reflected in an upcoming revised Food Guide Pyramid.
SOURCE: American Dietetic Association, Jan. 12, 2005
