New US Food Guidelines: Eat Less Meat, More Beans
2024-12-24
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1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
2For a healthy diet, people should eat more beans, peas and lentils.
3They should eat less red meat and processed meats, as well as starchy vegetables, like potatoes.
4Also, they should continue to limit added sugars, sodium and saturated fat, an especially unhealthy kind of fat.
5That is the latest advice released on December 10 by a panel of nutrition experts.
6This panel of experts is responsible for advising the U.S. government about the 2025 dietary guidelines.
7These guidelines will inform and shape federal food programs and policy.
8But the 20-member panel did not advise on ultra-processed foods that some research findings link to health problems.
9The panel says there is not enough evidence to tell people to avoid them.
10And the group did not speak to possibly updating controversial guidance on drinking alcohol.
11They are leaving that issue to two independent reports expected to be released soon.
12Overall, the recommendations for the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans sound familiar, said Marion Nestle. She is a food policy expert.
13"This looks like every other set of dietary guidelines since 1980: eat your veggies and reduce consumption of foods high in salt, sugar and saturated fat," she said in an email.
14She also said the latest advice "says nothing about balancing calories, when overconsumption of calories, especially from ultra-processed foods, is the biggest challenge to the health of Americans."
15The nutrition panel described a healthy diet for people beginning at two years old.
16It is high in vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains, fish and vegetable oils that are higher in unsaturated fat.
17The recommended diet is lower in red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened food and drink, refined grains and saturated fat.
18It may also include fat-free or low-fat dairy and foods lower in sodium and may include plant-based foods.
19This panel worked on the guidelines for almost two years.
20It was the first to consider dietary needs based on financial situation, race, ethnicity and culture.
21Panelist Fatima Cody Stanford is an obesity expert and doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital.
22In an email, she said that considering these new elements will help make sure that the guidance "...reflects and includes various population groups."
23The panel did not advise on two controversial food groups: ultra-processed foods or alcohol.
24Ultra-processed foods make up about 60 percent of the American diet.
25The panel considered more than 40 studies.
26Several of them showed links between ultra-processed foods and being overweight or obesity.
27But the nutrition experts had concerns with the quality of the research.
28So, they said the evidence was too limited to make recommendations.
29The panel also did not change recommendations about alcohol.
30The current guidelines are two drinks or less a day for men and one drink or less a day for women.
31The last time the guidance was updated was in 2020.
32At that time, the government rejected the advice of scientific advisers to recommend less alcohol consumption.
33Two separate government groups expect to release reports in the coming months on the effects of moderate alcohol use to inform the guidelines.
34The advisory panel said they know that the diets of most Americans do not meet the current guidelines.
35More than half of all adults in the country have one or more diet-related chronic health condition.
36And 18 million individuals and families have insecure sources of food, the report says.
37The report adds that "...nutrition-related chronic health conditions" will continue "to threaten health through the lifespan."
38It adds that this is not good "for the future of health in the United States."
39The scientific report informs the dietary guidelines which are updated every five years.
40These new recommendations now go to the U.S. Health & Human Services (or HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (or USDA).
41Officials there will create the final guidance and release it next year.
42As of December 11, the public has 60 days to comment on the guidance.
43HHS and USDA officials will hold a public meeting on January 16 to discuss the recommendations.
44And that's the Health & Lifestyle report.
45I'm Anna Matteo.
1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. 2For a healthy diet, people should eat more beans, peas and lentils. They should eat less red meat and processed meats, as well as starchy vegetables, like potatoes. Also, they should continue to limit added sugars, sodium and saturated fat, an especially unhealthy kind of fat. 3That is the latest advice released on December 10 by a panel of nutrition experts. This panel of experts is responsible for advising the U.S. government about the 2025 dietary guidelines. These guidelines will inform and shape federal food programs and policy. 4But the 20-member panel did not advise on ultra-processed foods that some research findings link to health problems. The panel says there is not enough evidence to tell people to avoid them. And the group did not speak to possibly updating controversial guidance on drinking alcohol. They are leaving that issue to two independent reports expected to be released soon. 5Overall, the recommendations for the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans sound familiar, said Marion Nestle. She is a food policy expert. 6"This looks like every other set of dietary guidelines since 1980: eat your veggies and reduce consumption of foods high in salt, sugar and saturated fat," she said in an email. 7She also said the latest advice "says nothing about balancing calories, when overconsumption of calories, especially from ultra-processed foods, is the biggest challenge to the health of Americans." 8What the scientific panel said about healthy diets 9The nutrition panel described a healthy diet for people beginning at two years old. It is high in vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains, fish and vegetable oils that are higher in unsaturated fat. 10The recommended diet is lower in red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened food and drink, refined grains and saturated fat. It may also include fat-free or low-fat dairy and foods lower in sodium and may include plant-based foods. 11This panel worked on the guidelines for almost two years. It was the first to consider dietary needs based on financial situation, race, ethnicity and culture. 12Panelist Fatima Cody Stanford is an obesity expert and doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital. In an email, she said that considering these new elements will help make sure that the guidance "...reflects and includes various population groups." 13Missing from the guidelines 14The panel did not advise on two controversial food groups: ultra-processed foods or alcohol. 15Ultra-processed foods make up about 60 percent of the American diet. 16The panel considered more than 40 studies. Several of them showed links between ultra-processed foods and being overweight or obesity. But the nutrition experts had concerns with the quality of the research. So, they said the evidence was too limited to make recommendations. 17The panel also did not change recommendations about alcohol. The current guidelines are two drinks or less a day for men and one drink or less a day for women. 18The last time the guidance was updated was in 2020. At that time, the government rejected the advice of scientific advisers to recommend less alcohol consumption. 19Two separate government groups expect to release reports in the coming months on the effects of moderate alcohol use to inform the guidelines. 20Do Americans follow dietary guidelines? 21The advisory panel said they know that the diets of most Americans do not meet the current guidelines. More than half of all adults in the country have one or more diet-related chronic health condition. And 18 million individuals and families have insecure sources of food, the report says. 22The report adds that "...nutrition-related chronic health conditions" will continue "to threaten health through the lifespan." It adds that this is not good "for the future of health in the United States." 23What happens next? 24The scientific report informs the dietary guidelines which are updated every five years. These new recommendations now go to the U.S. Health & Human Services (or HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (or USDA). Officials there will create the final guidance and release it next year. 25As of December 11, the public has 60 days to comment on the guidance. HHS and USDA officials will hold a public meeting on January 16 to discuss the recommendations. 26And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. 27I'm Anna Matteo. 28JoNel Aleccia reported this story for the Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. 29_______________________________________________ 30Words in This Story 31panel - n. a group of persons selected for some service (such as investigation or arbitration) 32controversial - adj. something that causes a discussion marked especially by the expression of opposing views 33recommendation - n. suggestions or advice on what is the best thing to do 34consumption - n. the act of eating or drinking something 35challenge - n. a stimulating task or problem 36obesity - n. a condition that is characterized by excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body and that in an adult is typically indicated by a body mass index of 30 or greater 37reflect - v. to cause (something, such as honor or credit) to be attributed or associated -used with the words on or upon 38various - adj. of an indefinite number greater than one 39chronic - adj. continuing or occurring again and again for a long time