The federal government recently released updated recommendations on what you should eat—as they do every five years. While most of the guidelines were nothing new (eat a variety of nutrient-dense foods—including vegetables, fruits, meat, grains and dairy—within a caloric limit that allows you to maintain a healthy body weight), there were some surprising changes. Here are some of the areas that had some standout revisions:
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- Cholesterol
The guideline recommendation to limit cholesterol consumption to 300 mg per day—an egg has roughly 200 mg—has been dropped. The government’s expert panel said that dietary cholesterol is “no longer a nutrient of concern.” In what may be the most striking change, the new version drops the strict limit on dietary cholesterol, stepping back from one of most prominent public health messages since the ’60s.
- Salt
Salt limits were eased for some people. Under the old rules, most adults were advised to consume no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium daily, while the limit for the others was 2,300 milligrams per day. Under the new guidelines, most adults are advised to limit themselves to 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, or roughly the amount of sodium in a teaspoon of salt.
- Coffee
Coffee won official approval for the first time, with the guidelines stating that as many as five eight-ounce cups a day is fine.
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- Breakfast
Skipping breakfast is no longer considered a health hazard: While the old version of Dietary Guidelines informed readers that “not eating breakfast has been associated with excess body weight,” the new version is silent on the topic.
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It’s important to note that a lot of these recommendations have changed significantly since the government issued its first book of guidelines in 1977. (For instance, butter and margarine was once one of the seven food groups to consume daily.) So we encourage you to do your own research, listen to your body and ultimately decide for yourself what should go into it.
Curated article from:
Washington Post
Health.gov
