LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has made major changes to dietary guidelines. The new food pyramid focuses mainly on protein, red meat, and healthy fats, as well as fruits and vegetables.<\/p>\n
The biggest change people noticed in this pyramid is the shape, which is upside-down compared to previous models. Many other factors remained constant or had minor changes. Health experts say there are both positives and negatives to the new guidelines.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, the Department of Health and Human Services released an updated version of dietary guidelines and a new food pyramid.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrimarily, I\u2019m very excited to see more real food in the pyramid, and staying away from preservative, processed foods,\u201d said Moushumi Mukherjee, a dietitian nutritionist.<\/p>\n
The new inverted pyramid heavily emphasizes protein, dairy, and healthy fats, alongside fruits and vegetables. Whole grains are the smallest group at the very bottom. Mukherjee, a registered dietitian, nutritionist, is glad to see some changes and agrees with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that Americans should eat fewer processed foods.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy message is clear: Eat real food,\u201d Kennedy said.<\/p>\n
But Mukherjee said she is less excited about the emphasis on red meat. She said eating large amounts of that comes with health risks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would definitely be concerned about the cardiovascular health, also diseases like cancer,\u201d Mukherjee said.<\/p>\n
Mukherjee also said the layout of the new diagram can be confusing, especially when portion sizes are not made clear.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen they see it on the top line, there is the assumption that I can have this every single day,\u201d Mukherjee said.<\/p>\n
However, Mason Cryer, a Lansing resident, said the visuals will help.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of food education, a lot of us are not ignorant necessarily, but definitely don\u2019t know what to look for,\u201d Cryer said.<\/p>\n
But he said some of the foods recommended by the guidelines, particularly fresh produce, can be harder to find.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s food deserts, there\u2019s places that you can\u2019t get bananas, apples, you can\u2019t get fresh meat,\u201d Cryer said.<\/p>\n
There were also changes to alcohol recommendations in the new guidelines. Prior rules had a cap on how much alcohol someone should consume, set at two drinks a day for men or one drink a day for women. Now, new guidelines only recommend that you should limit alcohol without setting any firm numbers.<\/p>\n
People may also notice added sugars are not in the food pyramid, as the Department of Health and Human Services says they are \u201cnot part of eating real foods and not recommended.\u201d<\/p>\n
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