From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.

For a healthy diet, people should eat more beans, peas and lentils. They should eat less red meat and processed meats, as well as starchy vegetables, like potatoes. Also, they should continue to limit added sugars, sodium and saturated fat, an especially unhealthy kind of fat.

That is the latest advice released on December 10 by a panel of nutrition experts. This panel of experts is responsible for advising the U.S. government about the 2025 dietary guidelines. These guidelines will inform and shape federal food programs and policy.

But the 20-member panel did not advise on ultra-processed foods that some research findings link to health problems. The panel says there is not enough evidence to tell people to avoid them. And the group did not speak to possibly updating controversial guidance on drinking alcohol. They are leaving that issue to two independent reports expected to be released soon.

Overall, the recommendations for the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans sound familiar, said Marion Nestle. She is a food policy expert.

“This looks like every other set of dietary guidelines since 1980: eat your veggies and reduce consumption of foods high in salt, sugar and saturated fat,” she said in an email.

She also said the latest advice “says nothing about balancing calories, when overconsumption of calories, especially from ultra-processed foods, is the biggest challenge to the health of Americans.”

What the scientific panel said about healthy diets

The nutrition panel described a healthy diet for people beginning at two years old. It is high in vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains, fish and vegetable oils that are higher in unsaturated fat.

The recommended diet is lower in red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened food and drink, refined grains and saturated fat. It may also include fat-free or low-fat dairy and foods lower in sodium and may include plant-based foods.

This panel worked on the guidelines for almost two years. It was the first to consider dietary needs based on financial situation, race, ethnicity and culture.

Panelist Fatima Cody Stanford is an obesity expert and doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital. In an email, she said that considering these new elements will help make sure that the guidance “…reflects and includes various population groups.”

Missing from the guidelines

The panel did not advise on two controversial food groups: ultra-processed foods or alcohol.

Ultra-processed foods make up about 60 percent of the American diet.

The panel considered more than 40 studies. Several of them showed links between ultra-processed foods and being overweight or obesity. But the nutrition experts had concerns with the quality of the research. So, they said the evidence was too limited to make recommendations.

The panel also did not change recommendations about alcohol. The current guidelines are two drinks or less a day for men and one drink or less a day for women.

The last time the guidance was updated was in 2020. At that time, the government rejected the advice of scientific advisers to recommend less alcohol consumption.

Two separate government groups expect to release reports in the coming months on the effects of moderate alcohol use to inform the guidelines.

Do Americans follow dietary guidelines?

The advisory panel said they know that the diets of most Americans do not meet the current guidelines. More than half of all adults in the country have one or more diet-related chronic health condition. And 18 million individuals and families have insecure sources of food, the report says.

The report adds that “…nutrition-related chronic health conditions” will continue “to threaten health through the lifespan.” It adds that this is not good “for the future of health in the United States.”

What happens next?

The scientific report informs the dietary guidelines which are updated every five years. These new recommendations now go to the U.S. Health & Human Services (or HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (or USDA). Officials there will create the final guidance and release it next year.

As of December 11, the public has 60 days to comment on the guidance. HHS and USDA officials will hold a public meeting on January 16 to discuss the recommendations.

And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report.

I’m Anna Matteo.

JoNel Aleccia reported this story for the Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

panel – n. a group of persons selected for some service (such as investigation or arbitration)

controversial – adj. something that causes a discussion marked especially by the expression of opposing views

recommendation – n. suggestions or advice on what is the best thing to do

consumption – n. the act of eating or drinking something

challenge – n. a stimulating task or problem

obesity – n. a condition that is characterized by excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body and that in an adult is typically indicated by a body mass index of 30 or greater

reflect – v. to cause (something, such as honor or credit) to be attributed or associated —used with the words on or upon

various – adj. of an indefinite number greater than one

chronic – adj. continuing or occurring again and again for a long time