What are the seven dietary guidelines for Americans?

04-04-2023

Health promotion and disease prevention have a lot to do with diet. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Center for Food and Nutrition Information has established seven dietary guidelines for people ages two and older regarding making smart food choices that promote health and prevent disease.

These guidelines are:

1. Consume different varieties of food.

Deficiencies in vitamins and minerals can foster disease in your body. It is important that you eat different types of food so that your body can get a good distribution of all the necessary vitamins and minerals.

2. Perform physical activity in proportion to the amount of food you eat.

Balancing the food you eat with corresponding physical activity to burn energy is extremely important to maintaining a healthy weight. You will gain weight if you consume more calories than you burn through your physical activities.

3. Include plenty of grain products, vegetables, and fruits in your diet.

Fiber, vitamins and minerals are essential for your health and well-being. By eating a different variety of grain products, vegetables, and fruits, you’ll be feeding your body the essentials it needs.

4. Eat foods low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol.

Foods high in cholesterol and saturated fat are among the top killers in our society today. Eating low-fat foods is important if you don’t want to have a heart attack in the future. Don’t avoid all kinds of fats. Your body needs some fat to function properly. Unsaturated fats are the best type to consume.

5. Only allow a moderate amount of sugars in your diet.

Sugars are high in calories and many of the foods we eat already contain sugar. These can be sugars found naturally in fruits or added during the manufacturing process. Watching your sugar intake will help you avoid gaining weight unnecessarily.

6. Only include a moderate amount of salt and sodium in your diet.

Scientific studies suggest that a high intake of salt and sodium may increase blood pressure. When this occurs, it could lead to serious and sometimes fatal health risks.

7. Consume alcoholic beverages in moderation, if at all.

There are almost no nutrients in alcoholic drinks, and yet these drinks contain a lot of calories. Excessive alcohol consumption could lead to serious health problems in addition to the relationship and social problems it also causes.

To many people, the seven dietary guidelines will sound like common sense. If it were common sense, one wonders why such a large percentage of the population is obese.

Following these seven dietary guidelines will help you lead a healthier, more active life, give you more energy to carry out your daily activities, and improve your overall health and well-being.