@nutritionbyliz: Thoughts on the New Dietary Guidelines for Americans — from a longevity-focused dietitian: The new DGAs emphasize eating real, nutrient-dense foods, and I appreciate that big-picture message. That said, I have concerns — especially for people trying to eat in ways that support long-term health, brain health, heart health, and a healthy planet. Here’s what stands out to me ⤵️ 1️⃣ Moving away from MyPlate feels like a missed opportunity: The guidelines critique older food models like the pyramid, then reintroduce a pyramid-style framework — while moving away from MyPlate, which helped people visualize balanced meals. MyPlate made it easier to see what balance looks like on a plate: more fruits and vegetables, with reasonable portions of protein and grains. 2️⃣ Plant-forward, evidence-based diets are harder to follow: The new framework makes it more difficult to follow dietary patterns with strong longevity data, including the Mediterranean, MIND, and DASH diets — all of which emphasize plants, whole grains, legumes, seafood, olive oil, and limited saturated fat. 3️⃣ Fiber is encouraged — but without clear targets: The guidelines say to “eat more fiber,” but don’t include specific goals (about 25 g/day for women and 38 g/day for men). With limited emphasis on whole grains and no clear spotlight on beans, meeting fiber needs may be challenging. 4️⃣ Heavy emphasis on red meat and full-fat dairy raises concerns: These foods are high in saturated fat and calorie-dense. Diets high in saturated fat are consistently linked to higher LDL cholesterol and increased cardiovascular risk — an important consideration for longevity. 5️⃣ Alcohol guidance is vague: Previous guidelines included clear limits (up to 1 drink/day for women, 2 for men). Removing specific guidance may leave people unsure how to reduce alcohol-related health risks. My bottom line: Dietary guidance should be clearer, more actionable, and better aligned with the strongest evidence for long-term health. Share your take in the comments, and grab more of my thoughts on my blog (link in bio) #dietaryguidelines #nutritionpolicy #longevitynutrition #dietitiansofinstagram

Liz Weiss, MS, RDN

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Wednesday 07 January 2026 21:48:29 GMT