Every five years, the USDA issues new dietary recommendations – often with many changes. If the guidelines change every five years, this suggests past guidelines were wrong – which in turn suggests current guidelines will be just as wrong.
Behind the scenes, the evidence for the guidelines is apparently weak, inconsistent and sometimes contradictory. You can read more about the problems here: US Dietary Guidelines Remain an Evidence-Free Zone
The USDA experts propose an eating style that requires a spreadsheet to track what you eat each week, and which may lead to nutritional deficiencies for some of us.
“include more nutrient-dense plant-based meal and dietary recommendation options,” prioritize plant-based protein over animal protein, and recognize the many benefits of beans, peas, and lentils as a protein source. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) continued to discourage consuming foods like red meat, eggs, and dairy that are high in saturated fat
The move to “plant-based” eating may lead to nutritional deficiencies such as vitamin B-12. See: The Accidental Vegetarian – Coldstreams.
Some people may thrive on a plant-based diet and some may thrive on a protein-based diet. After several years of eating mostly vegetarian, I ended up vitamin b-12 deficiency and suffered numerous serious health problems. After correcting that I later learned from a cousin, who is an M.D., that there is a family history of vitamin B-12 deficiency, suggesting that what might work for some, may not work for me and others.
The “experts” are proposing a one size fits all solution for everyone, ignoring individual’s own health needs, and basing their recommendations on a poor evidence-base.
Older individuals absorb less dietary B-12, store less B-12 in their liver, and may have additional complications from medications that limit B-12 absorption. Some people may have hereditary or other health issues (such as Crohn’s disease or Celiac disease) that limit absorption of essential nutrients. The dietary guidelines fall to make the issues understood to everyone. Many, perhaps most people, may not even know they have medical conditions or are on medications that interfere with absorption.
In the 1980s, USDA experts (actually dieticians) said to avoid as much fat as possible, but that consuming sugar was okay, as long as you were not diabetic or if you were trying to lose weight. How did that turn out?
That really happened: I was in a company sponsored meeting to deliver the latest health recommendations to all staff. After going over the USDA’s recommendations including that we should strive to eliminate as much fat from our diet as possible (zero fat would be best!) – a person behind me then asked the nutritionists – “So, we should eliminate as much fat as possible, but sugar is okay if you are not diabetic?”. The answer from the experts was, “Yes, that is correct.”
Younger folks are not aware that when the first USDA guidelines came out, they were hammered into the population through news stories and on-site job seminars. Employers believed the guidelines would lower health benefit costs – and arranged for discussion at company meetings – even at my tech employer.
Dietary advice changes because the underlying “science” is often poor – here’s another one: Doctors and Health Experts Are Changing Their Minds About Whole Milk and Cheese (Whole milk and cheese bad but now maybe not…)
