Newswise — The newly released 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans provide valuable and realistic recommendations based on the latest scientific research to help people eat well and stay healthy, according to the food and nutrition experts of the American Dietetic Association.
"The next vital step will be to get the message of the Guidelines out to consumers," said registered dietitian and ADA President Susan H. Laramee. "ADA commends the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services for taking the first step with their new consumer booklet, Finding Your Way to a Healthier You.
"Especially considering the epidemic of obesity we face in our country, people need all the help they can get in understanding the relationships between food consumption, a healthy diet, physical fitness and good health," Laramee said. The Dietary Guidelines will set the nation's policy direction for the next five years for all government nutrition programs, including research, education, food assistance, labeling and nutrition promotion.
"The Dietary Guidelines do a great job of reflecting current science and making recommendations. Now dietetics professionals will give consumers the assistance they need in translating the Guidelines into advice they can use every day," Laramee said. Compared with the Dietary Guidelines' most recent revision in 2000, the 2005 Guidelines " among the report's many findings " place a greater emphasis on consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grains " foods that are naturally high in nutrients and low in calories. "The revised Dietary Guidelines are consistent with ADA's messages to consumers that emphasize the total diet, or overall pattern of food consumed," Laramee said. "The keys are eating a variety of foods in moderation, paying attention to portion sizes and engaging in regular physical activity. Within this framework, all foods can fit into a healthful diet."
Laramee called the report of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee a sound and thorough review of the latest science and an excellent basis for building consumer messages on healthful eating. Five members of the American Dietetic Association served on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee that drafted the report.
ADA recommends the Guidelines' nine focus areas and their key recommendations continue to be translated into clear and actionable messages using consumer testing. The USDA is due to release a revised consumer guidance graphic to replace the current Food Guide Pyramid in early spring which will reflect the updates and changes in the Guidelines. "In combination, these two documents will be valuable nutrition education tools," Laramee said.
"The only way to make sure consumers understand the messages is to work with them to choose words and images that make sense to them," Laramee said. "Consumers need to be educated on the new Guidelines, how to interpret them and how to implement them. ADA and our members look forward to continuing to work with USDA and HHS in translating and evaluating the Dietary Guidelines as we continue to focus on helping people enjoy healthy lives."
The American Dietetic Association is the nation's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. With nearly 70,000 members, the Chicago-based ADA serves the public by promoting optimal health and well-being for all people. Visit ADA at http://www.eatright.org.
RSS