USDA Guidelines for a Healthy Diet

USDA Guidelines for a Healthy Diet

• The USDA provides guidelines for a healthy diet.
• ChooseMyPlate.gov is a resource for dietary recommendations.

Past and Present U.S. Food Recommendations

• Current guidelines address chronic diseases like diabetes.
• Overt nutritional deficiencies are less common.
• Dietary intake recommendations are influenced by personal preferences and other external factors.

Food Choices Today

• Nutrition recommendations are designed for populations and target individuals' nutrient needs.
• People don't always follow dietary recommendations or understand the implementation.
• Individual choices are primarily influenced by taste, cost, and marketing instead of health impact.

What is Nutritional Status?

• Nutritional status is the health influenced by nutrient intake.
• Doctors and dieticians assess nutritional status, including food and nutrient intake, health, and lifestyle.
• Nutritional status assesments are used to distinguish between nourished/malnourished/at risk of malnutrition.

Assessing Nutritional Status

• Step 1: Determine typical food intake. This involves a food diary.
• Step 2: Analyze nutrient intake. Assess nutrient intakes against Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). Examples are provided in the slides.
• Step 3: Evaluate physical health. Physical health evaluations should be done.
• Step 4: Consider medical history and lifestyle. A family medical history can provide insight to assist in the assessment.
• Step 5 (if necessary): Assess with laboratory tests. Laboratory results can provide additional information.

NHANES

• National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey provides population-wide nutritional data.
• The survey gathers data on various demographics and demographics like young women, preschoolers, and elders.
• NHANES data supports government recommendations and policies.

Nutrient Descriptors

• (No detailed information provided)

Dietary Reference Intake (DRI)

• DRI is an umbrella term encompassing several nutrient classifications.
• This includes Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), Estimated Average Requirement (EAR), Adequate Intake (AI), and Upper Level (UL).

Estimated Average Requirements (EARs)

• EARs represent the average nutrient intake needed by half of the population within a specified gender and age group.

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)

• RDA sets average daily intake levels suitable for 97% of a healthy population, including different age stages and genders.
• The RDA is derived from the EAR and accounts for the majority of the population.

Adequate Intakes (Als)

• Als are established when an EAR and RDA don't exist for a specific nutrient.
• These estimations are based on average intake among healthy individuals.

Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs)

• ULs are the maximum daily intakes of a nutrient that are unlikely to cause health risks.
• These intakes are used to cautiously consider nutrient intake, especially considering supplements and fortified foods.

EAR Vs. RDA Vs. AI Vs. UL

• EAR represents 50% of healthy intakes.
• RDA is the goal intake for individuals, derived from the EAR.
• AI is the intake estimate when RDA data is not sufficient.
• ULs are for caution in excess nutrient intake.

Daily Value (DV)

• DV combines RDA and Daily Reference Values (DRVs).
• DRVs include nutrients not in RDAs.
• DV is used on nutrition labels to indicate content in relation to daily requirements.

Estimated Energy Requirements (EERs)

• EERs estimate average energy intake needed.
• Calculations account for age, gender, height, weight, and physical activity.
• Results are presented as caloric values.

Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges (AMDRs)

• AMDRs are recommended ranges for protein, carbohydrates, and fat intake.
• These ranges help decrease disease risks.

5 Variables that Affect Your Energy Needs

• Age slows metabolism, requiring less energy
• Gender (males have higher requirements for muscle mass)
• Height leads to higher needs
• Weight leads to higher needs
• Activity levels correlate with higher energy needs.

Where Can We Find Current Dietary Intake Recommendations?

• Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs)
• USDA Food Guide
• MyPlate Guidelines
• Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Tools for Diet Planning

• DRIs are not practical for most.
• Dietary Guidelines, and resources like MyPlate, help patients plan diets.

Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2020-2025)

• Diet and lifestyle recommendations for health, overweight, and chronic disease prevention.
• Evidence-based, age-specific guidelines.
• Updated every 5 years to reflect changes and data.

Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2020-2025) Specific Recommendations

• Healthy dietary patterns at all life stages.
• Nutrient-dense foods, reflecting personal preferences and needs.
• Calorie consumption in moderation.
• Limiting certain nutrients (added sugars, saturated fat, sodium, and alcohol).
• Emphasizing specific food groups like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, dairy, protein, and fats.

MyPlate

• Based on USDA Dietary Guidelines.
• Illustrates the proportion of five food groups (fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy),
• Emphasizes proportionality, variety, and moderation in portion sizes.
• Provides a visual index for planning diets.

MyPlate Food Groups

• Provides guidelines for portion sizes of different food groups.

MyPlate: What Counts as an Ounce or a Cup?

• Food standards for common food groups.
• Portion descriptions are provided.

MyPlate Daily Food Plan: Example

• Example daily meal plans designed to meet nutritional guidelines.
• (Detailed plan, so it's best to read the slide itself)

Empty and Discretionary Calories

• Empty calories come from solid fats and added sugars.
• Discretionary calories are the remaining calories after essential nutrient needs.
• Important to consider these calories for health and well-being and consume in moderation.

Discretionary Calories

• Illustrates caloric breakdowns, with a visual.

What Should We Eat?

• Maintain weight by balancing calories.
• Include healthy foods, nutrients, with short ingredient lists to support health.

Exchange Lists

• Foods are categorized by carbohydrate, fat, and protein content for calorie control.
• Exchange lists can help diabetics and others manage calorie intake.

Health vs. Qualified Health Claims

• Explains "authorized" (FDA-supported) and "qualified" (emerging, yet not conclusive) health claims.

Structure/Function Claims

• Describe nutrient roles in maintaining normal bodily function.
• Do not require FDA approval for general use on food labels, but they do require FDA approval on dietary supplement labels.

Health vs. Structure/Function Claims

• Explains the difference between health and structure/function claims.
• Health claims are specific and validated by the FDA, while structure/function claims describe the effects of nutrients on bodily functions.