New Dietary Guidelines for Americans Released

The 5th edition of Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, jointly issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), debuted in May 2000 at the federally sponsored National Nutrition Summit in Washington, DC. The guidelines provide easily understood, science-based information to help Americans choose diets that promote good health. In addition to offering practical information to consumers, the guidelines serve as the cornerstone of Federal nutrition policy and programs.

The new guidelines consist of 10 recommendations, grouped into three categories, the "ABCs":

• Aim for Fitness
• Build a Healthy Base
• Choose Sensibly

The recommendations continue to emphasize balance, moderation, and variety in food choices, and include specific practical advice ranging from how to read nutrition labels to which fruits and vegetables provide the most nutrients.

The new guidelines place a stronger emphasis on the benefits of eating whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. They also stress the importance of physical activity for health, recommending that both children and adults get at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily. A new recommendation on food safety describes how to prepare, store, and serve food safely. "We have long recognized the importance of a healthy diet," said HHS Secretary Donna Shalala. "The guidelines now highlight the integral relationships of physical activity and safe food handling to healthful eating patterns."

The guidelines are updated every 5 years to reflect medical and scientific advances. For the first time, they include the Body Mass Index (BMI) chart to help consumers evaluate whether they are at a healthy weight, or are overweight or obese. Other changes include a focus on reducing saturated fat and cholesterol intake rather than fat intake in general, and the addition of beverages, specifically nondiet soft drinks, in the discussion of reducing sugar intake.

The new guidelines are available from the Federal Consumer Information Center, 1-888-878-3256, for $4.75 each. A brief consumer brochure entitled Using the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is also available from the information center for 50 cents each.

The guidelines and brochure can also be downloaded from the Web at www.usda.gov/cnpp or www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines.