What is a “Healthy Diet”?
The typical American diet is far from healthy. American diets are chock full of sodium, solid fats, added sugars and refined grains. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 describes a healthy diet as one that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products; includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts. A healthy diet is also low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are issued jointly and updated every five years by the US Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS). The Dietary Guidelines are the cornerstone of Federal nutrition policy and nutrition education activities. The latest edition, released at the end of January 2011, highlights the need to contain the obesity epidemic by maintaining the calorie intake and the need to focus on consuming foods and beverages that are high in nutrients.
According to the Guidelines, Americans consume too much sodium and too many calories from solid fats, added sugars, and refined grains. The guidelines point out the need to establish healthier eating patterns by limiting the intake of sodium, solid fats, added sugars, and refined grains. Instead, it stresses the need for nutrient-dense foods and beverages, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products, seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, beans and peas, and nuts and seeds.
You can read more about a balanced diet and about the Dietary Guidelines at:
- MyPyramid.gov
- DietaryGuidelines.gov
You can read more on how your diet affects your oral and dental health in the Lifestyle Diet and Nutrition section on FreeDentistFinder.com.
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