Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Nutrition is one science that affects everyone on a daily basis, one science that more of us are aware of than perhaps any of the other sciences combined. There is a plethora of research in the areas of health and nutrition, with new study results being published on a continual basis and yet with all that is known and being learned about nutrition, there is still room for disagreement among nutritional professionals.

Since 1980 the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have worked together to develop the dietary guidelines that will promote the health and well-being of Americans. The process is ongoing with its results published every five years in the form of Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The most recent edition of Dietary Guidelines for Americans was released by the USDA/HHS in January 2005. Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman related during the January 12, 2005 press conference that this set of guidelines was the most evidence-based, science-driven set of guidelines to date.

The 2005 guidelines were developed by an independent panel of nationally known experts who pored over research; input was sought from the public at large and professionals; and finally, once the draft of the dietary guidelines was completed, a panel of federal scientists reviewed the material in a peer-review.

It would be difficult to imagine a more thorough process that could be used in the development of the dietary guidelines, but there are detractors from the recommendations that were the outcome of the extensive joint process of the two departments.

Dr. Meir Stampfer, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health stated that he felt the guidelines recommended too much dairy. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends three servings of dairy per day in order for an individual to receive the recommended 1,000 milligrams of calcium. Stampfer related that populations in other parts of the world who take in less calcium than is being recommended to Americans "actually have lower rates of bone fracture" and "a fair number of studies have associated high calcium intakes with higher rates of prostate cancer" (Susan Stevens, Daily Herald).

Stampfer also voiced concern that the benefits of eating fish were not as well emphasized as they should be, stating, "There's clear data promoting fish and fish oils as being healthy, and there's lots of data showing limiting red meat intake is a good idea" (Stevens, Daily Herald).

Dietitian Bonnie Minsky of the American College of Nutrition is concerned that although the dietary guidelines have added that breads and starches be of the whole grain variety, the recommended six servings a day is overkill. Minsky charged, "Most people have been sticking to at least six grains a day, and they're getting sicker and fatter" (Stevens, Daily Herald).

Dr. Charles Baum, the Alexian Nutrition & Disease Prevention Center's medical director stated his concerns that the guidelines don't take into account the influences in day-to-day living that affect the way people eat.

And because the dietary guidelines are a product of the USDA, nutrition experts question the validity of some of the recommendations. Minsky stated, "The whole food pyramid, all the dietary guidelines are a compromise between nutrition advocates and food and agriculture lobbyists" (Stevens, Daily Herald).

The opinions of these experts, and others, should be weighed by the individual when determining whether to strictly follow the dietary guidelines and the updated food pyramid, or whether to use those resources as two of the weapons in their arsenal in the quest for good nutrition and optimal health.

Resources: Steven, S. (2005, March 14). Too much milk, not enough fish. Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL).

http://www.health.gov/DietaryGuidelines/default.htm