New Dietary Guidelines Prioritize Protein, Full-Fat Dairy

The federal government has released the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, marking a significant shift in nutrition policy. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the updates, stating the intention is to 'undo previous advice' and center the diet on 'real food.' The guidelines form the basis for federal food programs, including the National School Lunch Program.

Major changes include a redesigned food pyramid that prioritizes protein and healthy fats, a recommendation to include full-fat dairy, and a specific call-out to limit highly processed foods. The guidelines also recommend avoiding added sugars entirely while encouraging a daily protein intake of 1.2-1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight.

The Department of Health and Human Services has released the updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are updated every five years. These guidelines serve as a guidepost for nutrition advice and form the basis for federal food programs, such as the National School Lunch Program, meals for the military, veterans, and preschoolers in Head Start.

The new guidelines are promoted through the government's realfood.gov website. A video on the site claims that Americans have been 'misled' by previous guidelines. Secretary Kennedy echoed this sentiment at the White House, stating:

"The hard truth is that our government has been lying to us to protect corporate profit-taking, telling us that these food-like substances were beneficial to public health."

The stated goal of the new guidelines is to revolutionize the nation's food culture and 'Make America Healthy Again.' The central theme is a return to whole, unprocessed ingredients.

The visual representation of the guidelines has changed significantly. The original food pyramid, introduced in 1992, prioritized bread, cereal, rice, and pasta. It was replaced in 2011 by 'My Plate,' which emphasized vegetables, protein, grains, fruits, and dairy.

Under the new 'Make America Healthy Again' campaign, the government has unveiled a new upside-down pyramid. This new structure deliberately de-prioritizes whole grains by flipping the triangle. The cornerstone of the new pyramid is protein and 'healthy' fats.

Secretary Kennedy noted that these elements 'are essential and were wrongly discouraged in prior dietary guidelines.' The new visual guide prioritizes the following food groups:

• Protein (animal sources)
• Dairy (full-fat)
• Healthy fats

The new guidelines introduce several specific changes to daily eating habits, focusing on protein, dairy, and the elimination of processed ingredients.

Protein Prioritization

For the first time, the guidelines encourage people to prioritize 'high-quality, nutrient-dense' protein at each meal. Animal sources are explicitly recommended, including eggs, poultry, seafood, and red meat. The daily protein serving goal is set at 1.2-1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight. For a 150-pound person, this equates to approximately 82 to 109 grams of protein daily.

Full-Fat Dairy

The guidelines state: 'Include full-fat dairy.' Secretary Kennedy declared, "We are ending the war on saturated fats." While this is a controversial stance among some nutritionists, the guidelines also highlight the importance of fermented foods like kefir for promoting a healthy microbiome.

Limiting Processed Foods and Sugars

The guidelines explicitly call out 'highly processed foods' for the first time. Secretary Kennedy compared the impact of these foods to a national security threat:

"If a foreign adversary sought to destroy the health of our children, to cripple our economy, to weaken our national security, there would be no better strategy than to addict us to ultra-processed foods."

Additionally, the new pyramid recommends avoiding added sugars entirely, while allowing naturally occurring sugars from fruit and dairy.