2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines: Limit Intake Of Sugar, Less Sodium And Curb Meat For Teenage Boys And Men

The updated edition of dietary guidelines was released on Thursday, Jan. 7 -- advising the Americans to limit the intake of sugar, eat less sodium and reduce the overall intake of protein foods such as meat, eggs and poultry for both teenage boys and men.

According to the report of New York Times, the newest edition of the dietary guidelines was issued by the Agriculture and Health and Human Services Department. Revised every five years, the first edition of the guidelines was published in 1980. Sylvia M. Burwell, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, said, "Protecting the health of the American public includes empowering them with the tools they need to make healthy choices in their daily lives."

The latest dietary guidelines advise the Americans to lessen the consumption of added sugar to 10% of daily calories. This may also affect the food nutrition labels. The World Health Organization echoed the same advice and cited that having low added sugar may prevent the risk of diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes, some types of cancer, heart disease and obesity.

The new dietary guidelines concluded that most teenage boys and men are consuming too much protein, according to the said report. They strongly encourage the Americans to consume more vegetables, fruits, low-fat foods, lean meat and whole grains.

The beef industry praised the recommendations of consuming lean meat as a bit of healthy diet. However, they have an issue on the perception that teenage boys and men were consuming too much protein.

On behalf of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Dr. Richard Thorpe, a Texas rancher and doctor issued a statement. "A significant amount of research shows that many people can lose and maintain a healthy weight, support a healthy metabolism and age more vibrantly when they consume more high-quality protein," he explained.

Meanwhile, the CNN reported other recommendations of the new dietary guidelines. These include a 300-milligram daily intake of dietary cholesterol, drinking moderate coffee three to five cups a day, and intake of "good" fat.