The New FDA Guidelines: A Fitastic Guide

The FDA’s New Dietary Guidelines

The FDA has released its new proposed dietary guidelines for 2015. There was excitement, disappointment, anger, frustration and hope.  Here is a breakdown of what the FDA is saying now.

Cholesterol is no longer a villain. The 2010 guidelines suggested we should limit cholesterol from foods to no more than 300 milligrams daily. (A large egg has about 186 mg of cholesterol.) Experts now say cholesterol is ”not a nutrient of concern,” because cholesterol from foods doesn’t cause higher blood cholesterol levels.

What does this mean?

CHOLESTEROL NEVER WAS THE BAD GUY!! Remember each month eggs went from being a hero to the villain? There was so much fear over meat that American’s turned to carbs for substance. Carbs for breakfast, carbs for lunch and carbs for dinner, carbs for snacks, carbs, carbs, carbs. Now we as American’s are overweight. So we at Fitastic are hoping that people put down the carbs and pick up the turkey leg. Eat your meat, eat your eggs.

Too sweet. The link between excess sugar and weight gain is strong. Keep added sugars to less than 10% of total calories, or 200 calories from sugar on a 2,000-calorie a day diet. One teaspoon of sugar has 16 calories, and 13 teaspoons have 208 calories.

What does this mean?

That while we were all afraid of eating meat we ate sugar like it was going out of style.  Sugar on and in everything, doesn’t matter if it is fake or real sugar. Sugar is the cause of weight gains. The simple sugars in carbs and candy cause our insulin to spike which causes our bodies to store far. Put down the sugar my friends. Limit your diet soda intake; add cream to coffee instead of sugar. Check the labels on your food. You will be sadly surprised by how much fake sugars are in foods you would never expect.

What you eat can help the planet. The new recommendations suggest plant-based diets are also good for the environment, and for using natural resources without depleting them, known as sustainability. Plant-based eating is healthy and has less impact on the environment, including land and water use.

What does this mean?

It means that environmentalist movement still has their hands in the guidelines of the FDA.  This is where the frustration and anger comes from when these guidelines were released.  Oddly enough the Vegans and the Meat-eaters are upset by this. The Vegans are mad because it only said a plant based diet can help the environment not that it is all around better for your health. The Meat-Eaters are annoyed because it is implying that plant based diets are better than meat filled diets. Interesting how one groups thinks the FDA went too far while the other thinks the FDA didn’t go far enough.

Put down the salt shaker. Adults who need to lower their blood pressure should eat less than 2,400 milligrams of sodium a day. Less than 1,500 mg is even better to lower blood pressure. A teaspoon of salt has about 2,300 mg.

What does this mean?

Something we have known for years now that the FDA is just catching up on.  When shopping at the grocery store read the labels to see how much sodium is in a serving.  Once again you will be sadly surprised by how much sodium is in one serving of some of your favorite foods.  It is best to avoid pre-made mixes or packaged dinners and soups to avoid high levels of sodium.

All in all there is hope in these new guidelines.  Considering the FDA has finally changed its tune on cholesterol since 1981 when the guidelines were first released.  Though the politics of food still play heavy in these recommendations we can at least know for sure that we can all enjoy eggs without fear.  Remember eat animal based proteins (the proof is in our human existence over thousands of years as meat eaters), watch your sugar and sodium intake, read the labels on your food.   Continue to make informed and healthy choices every day. That will be your key to happy, long and healthy life.

Be sure to subscribe to Fitastic. Create a username and password. Get our monthly newsletters letting you know of articles, workouts and more related to Fitastic. While you are at it be sure to Like us on Face Book, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Instagram @teamfitastic

Wild Will Wilson (W³⁾