New US dietary guidelines urge sharp cuts in sugar

New federal dietary guidelines announced on Thursday for the first time recommend Americans eat far less sugar and focus on a day-to-day pattern of eating a variety of nutritious, balanced foods. To put that in perspective, one serving of root beer already has about ten teaspoons of sugar in it. After that, drink you’re already creeping on your max for the day.

The new guidelines are rewritten every five years, and obviously not everyone will agree with all of the recommendations, but the dietary standards are all based on sound science, according to Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell. While the document explaining the new guidelines does not explicitly tell Americans to cut back on processed or red meat, it does contain a chart with examples of foods high in saturated fat that should be limited, which includes a lot of meat products like hamburgers.

“Because there’s no direct messaging in the dietary guidelines that says don’t eat junk food, don’t eat processed food, don’t eat meat, don’t drink sodas”, Professor Nestle said. Also, the guidelines keep the advice that saturated fats – in foods such as red meat and butter – should be no more than 10 percent of calories. But the meat industry objected, so instead there is more general encouragement to eat other protein such as seafood and nuts.

They also allow for moderate coffee consumption. The report revealed the average American adult gets about 13 percent of their calories from hidden added sugar and for teenagers that number is closer to 17 percent.

Since 1980, HHS and USDA have shared a responsibility to the American public to ensure that advancements in scientific understanding about the role of nutrition in health are incorporated into the Dietary Guidelines, which is updated every five years.

The new dietary guidelines urges Americans to reduce intake of sugar and trans and saturated fats.

The biggest surprise in the guidelines was the conclusion that teenage boys and men were generally consuming too much protein. They form the basis of school lunch programs and help shape national food assistance programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.

The Dietary Guidelines also recognize the important role of exercise, and recommend that people meet the federal Physical Activity Guidelines as well.

The average person eats 3,400 milligrams of sodium a day, and the guidelines say everyone should lower that amount to 2,300, or about a teaspoon. The new guidelines dropped recommended limits, but still advise people “eat as little…as possible”.