New Dietary Guidlines Focus on Sodium
USDA, Health and Human Services Panel has new recommendations - including the fact that consumers should eat less meat, more veggies.
Compiled by staff
Published: Jun 16, 2010
Consumers are getting too much sodium. That's the conclusion of a joint panel appointed by USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The panel's recommendations, released this week, would call for sodium intake levels to be reduced from 2,300 to 1,500 milligrams per day.
The guidelines follow those from the Institute of Medicine, which reported earlier this year that people need just 1,500 mg daily for good health, and less if they're over 50. Average consumption is measured at 3,400 mg per day.
Reducing the recommended sodium intake will take time, but the panel didn't report the amount of time the reduction would take. The panel report also notes Americans of all ages don't get enough fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat milk or milk products. But consumers are eating too much in added sugars, solid fats and refined grains and sodium.
A final version of the guidelines is expected later this year. Other recommendations include shifting dietary patterns to a more plant-based diet; improving nutrition education; and improving affordability of fresh produce. Learn more by visiting Dietary Guidelines.
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