Federal Dietary Guideline Updated

I have been reading the new guidelines put out by the Federal Dietary Commission, which are required to be updated every 5 years.  I like the general recommendations that they have listed however for the average person it might be a bit overwhelming to decipher what all this information means without research, google a calorie calculator, good friend to keep them on task and it might take a village.. just saying.  Perhaps the issue isn't just in making guidelines but also linking to some nice tools that will help get the job done.

Need help calculating what you are eating to determine how much everything adds up to then perhaps fitday.com will help.  


Among the recommendations are:
 
• Reduce daily sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) and further reduce intake to 1,500 mg among persons who are 51 and older and those of any age who are African American or have hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease. The 1,500 mg recommendation applies to about half of the U.S. population, including children, and the majority of adults.
• Consume less than 10 percent of calories from saturated fatty acids by replacing them with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
• Consume less than 300 mg per day of dietary cholesterol.
• Keep trans fatty acid consumption as low as possible by limiting foods that contain synthetic sources of trans fats, such as partially hydrogenated oils, and by limiting other solid fats.
• Reduce the intake of calories from solid fats and added sugars.
• Limit the consumption of foods that contain refined grains, especially refined grain foods that contain solid fats, added sugars, and sodium.
• If alcohol is consumed, it should be consumed in moderation—up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men—and only by adults of legal drinking age.

There is some fairly basic guidance regarding managing weight but it rather broad ranged and without the knowledge would be difficult to incorporate into your daily lifestyle.

Balancing calories to Manage weight:

• Prevent and/or reduce overweight and obesity through improved eating and physical activity behaviors.
• Control total calorie intake to manage body weight. For people who are overweight or obese, this will mean consuming fewer calories from foods and beverages.
• Increase physical activity and reduce time spent in sedentary behaviors.
• Maintain appropriate calorie balance during each stage of life—childhood, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and older age.


To read an article discussing these guidelines by: Washington Post click here
Another viewpoint can be found here: Huffington Post