The United States Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announced this Wednesday (7) new dietary guidelines for Americans, in a scenario that virtually inverts the food pyramid.
Now, the recommendation is to increase the consumption of red meat, cheeses, milk and dairy products. Cereals and carbohydrates are among the items to avoid.
According to the secretary of health, the observation is that Americans “eat real food,” reducing the amount of processed foods and foods high in sugar.
The measure comes as local health agencies have spent years advising moderate consumption of red meat and other high-fat foods. The new guidelines call for cooking with animal fats and increasing protein intake.
Nevertheless, the guidance continues to emphasize a good intake of fruits and vegetables, healthy vegetable oils, and cereals.
In the new statement, Robert Kennedy Jr. states that 90% of Americans’ medical spending is related to some chronic disease, many of which are caused by an unbalanced diet. Additionally, more than 70% of the population is obese or overweight.
He also reiterates that the realignment aims to support American farmers, ranchers, and companies that grow and produce “real foods.”
“We are putting real foods back at the center of the American diet. Real foods that nourish the body. Real foods that restore health. Real foods that provide energy and encourage movement and exercise. Real foods that strengthen,” he writes in the official document.
“Under the leadership of President Trump, we are restoring common sense, scientific integrity, and accountability to federal food and health policies — and we are reclaiming the food pyramid and returning it to its true purpose of educating and nourishing all Americans,” he continues.
The target protein intake becomes 1.2 to 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight per day. A change in dietary guidelines alters the distribution of foods and food production in schools, military spaces and hospitals, for example.
