The U.S. government released the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans on January 31, 2011 to promote health and reduce chronic disease through improved nutrition and increased physical activity. The guidelines place stronger emphasis on reducing calorie intake and increasing exercise given that over 1/3 of children and 2/3 of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese. The guidelines focus on balancing calories with physical activity and encourage consuming more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and seafood and less sodium, saturated fat, added sugars and refined grains.

1. On Jan. 31, 2011, the U.S. government announced the
release of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

2. This is the federal government's nutritional
recommendations to promote health, reduce the risk of
chronic disease, and halt the epidemic increase in
obesity, through improved nutrition and increased
physical activity.

3. Because more than one-third of children and more than
two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight or
obese, this latest edition of Dietary Guidelines for
Americans places stronger emphasis on reducing caloric
consumption and devoting more time to exercise.

4. As Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said, “The 2010
Dietary Guidelines are being released at a time when the
majority of adults and one in three children is overweight
or obese and this is a crisis that we can no longer ignore.”

5. “These new and improved dietary recommendations give
individuals the information to make thoughtful choices of
healthier foods in the right portions and to complement
those choices with physical activity."

6. "The bottom line is that most Americans need to trim our
waistlines to reduce the risk of developing diet-related
chronic disease. Improving our eating habits is not only
good for every individual and family, but also for our
country.”

7. The new 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans focus on
balancing calories with physical activity, and encourage
Americans to consume more healthy foods like
vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy
products, and seafood, and to consume less
sodium, saturated and trans fats, added sugars, and
refined grains.

8. While this is a positive step in the right direction it is not
sufficient.

9. I would take exception with the Secretary's remark that
these recommendations "give individuals the information
to make thoughtful choices of healthier foods."

10. The guidelines given are half truths and promote careless
compromise in one's dietary choices.

11. Based upon the advice found in Dr. Joel Fuhrman's "Eat to
Live Recipes" it would be healthier if we were to totally
eliminate all animal products. Encouraging Americans to
eat "fat-free and low-fat dairy products" is misleading and
dangerous.

12. Even fat-free and low-fat dairy products are harmful and
lead to the rampant disease we see all around us.

13. Dairy, as well as meat and poultry, are foods that need to
be completely removed from our diets if we are to achieve
the noble health goals espoused by the U.S. government.

14. Consuming "less sodium, saturated and trans fats, added
sugars, and refined grains," is also, not a sufficient wake
up call.

15. How do we measure "less?"

16. Americans need to be told the truth.

17. The foods mentioned above are responsible for the
chronic state of heart disease, cancer and diabetes in the
U.S. and the public should be cautioned to eliminate
them, not just reduce them.

18. To help consumers translate the Dietary Guidelines into
their everyday lives the government offers following
advice:

19. • Enjoy your food, but eat less.

20. • Avoid oversized portions.

21. • Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.

22. • Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.

23. • Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen
meals – and choose the foods with lower numbers.

24. • Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

25. This edition of the Dietary Guidelines comes at a critical
juncture for America’s health and prosperity. By adopting
the recommendations in the Dietary
Guidelines, Americans can live healthier lives and
contribute to a lowering of health-care costs.

26. Nevertheless, to achieve the lofty health goals that we
aspire to, more must be done to educate people of all ages
as to the impact the foods they eat make on their
physical, emotional and mental well being.

27. http://www.squidoo.com/Eat-To-Live-Recipes/