The Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services released the much-anticipated new edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans on Thursday, January 7. The agencies said that the timing of the release is intended to coincide with the public’s attention to health-seeking goals around the new year.
The guidelines advocate for lean meats and poultry as part of a healthy diet, stating that “meats provide the most zinc, while poultry provides the most niacin.” Meats, poultry, and seafood also provide an important source for heme iron, which is more easily metabolized than the non-heme iron found in plants. The guidelines note that the average intake of meat, poultry, and eggs is one of the few nutrient-dense foods for which the American population is at or above recommended weekly intake ranges, but stress that many women and children may not be getting enough iron, and that they should seek it out in sources such as lean meats, poultry, and seafood.
“It should come as no surprise to health professionals, dieticians and nutritionists that the 2015 Dietary Guidelines recognize the importance of including lean meats like chicken in a healthy diet,” said NCC Senior Vice President of Communications Tom Super. “We thank Secretaries Vilsack and Burwell for lean meat’s inclusion and for making sure the guidelines remain based on sound science. For many, chicken is the go-to food for lean meat, because of its low fat and high protein content, its versatility, affordability, ease of preparation and nutrient richness. All main reasons why per capita consumption of chicken in 2016 will hit a record high of over 90 pounds per person.”
Much of the guidelines remain consistent with previous editions’ recommendations; however, for the first time, these guidelines set a limit on the recommended caloric intake of added sugars in the diet to less than 10 percent of total calories consumed per day. Generally, the guidelines focused on healthy eating as a multi-dimensional lifestyle choice, recommending that Americans stay physically active; aim for healthy eating patterns; and make small “shifts” over time to achieve a habit of healthful choices.
USDA’s press release regarding the release of the guidelines is available here. The complete Dietary Guidelines may be found here.
