U.S. Dietary Guidelines 2005

Beans have been garnering quite a bit of press coverage lately…in January 2005, the sixth edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans was released, providing science-based advice to promote health and reduce risk of chronic diseases through nutrition and physical activity. The Guidelines recognize beans as a necessary part of a healthy diet and encourage people to eat at least three cups of beans per week.*

The Guidelines classify beans as a vegetable and as a non-meat protein source because they contain nutrients found in both of the respective food groups. Specifically, Americans are encouraged to eat nine servings (4 ½ cups) of fruits and vegetables daily, choosing a variety from the five veggie subgroups: dark green, orange and starchy veggies, legumes (dry beans), and all others vegetables.

Beans and legumes are spotlighted again in the Dietary Guidelines as a nutrient-rich carbohydrate source. Dietary fiber has numerous proven health benefits such as reducing the risk of heart disease and some cancers, promoting regularity and helping with weight maintenance.

As the Dietary Guidelines point out, beans and legumes are an important part of a healthy diet and an active lifestyle.

How to fit legumes into your diet.

For more information, please visit: www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines

* Recommendation is for a 2000 calorie diet and may vary depending on higher or lower calorie levels.

United States “Steps to a Healthier You,” New Symbol and Food Guidance System Unveiled

The United States Department of Agriculture unveils the long-anticipated food guidance system, including an interactive tool and new symbol, replacing the Food Guide Pyramid that was introduced to Americans in 1992.

The new guidance system, called MyPyramid, incorporates recommendations from the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, that were released earlier this year. MyPyramid contains interactive tools so that people can get personalized nutrition and physical activity recommendations based on their age, gender and physical activity level. The new symbol, still a pyramid, encourages people to make healthy food choices and to be physically active daily. It illustrates gradual improvement, hence the slogan “Steps to a Healthier You,” and physical activity, variety, moderation, proportionality and personalization.

The food guidance system provides recommended proportions of foods from each food group and gives tips on how Americans can get the recommended servings daily. Beans are included in the vegetable and the lean meat group and MyPyramid recommends that all people eat several cups of beans per week. (Amounts vary depending on personal calorie needs.) Tips are also provided on how to incorporate more beans into every day meals.

Visit www.mypyramid.gov to get your personalized nutrition information and keep eating those beans!

U.S. Dietary Guidance Statement

Not to be confused with the Dietary Guidelines, additional research has shown that "Diets including beans may reduce your risk of heart disease and certain cancers."

Dietary health messages are NOT health claims, but statements encouraging healthy eating among consumers.

If there was ever a doubt before, now it’s certain that beans are an essential part of maintaining health and reducing the risk of disease.

Confused about the difference between Dietary Guidelines, guidance statements, and FDA health claims? Here’s the distinction:

• A dietary guidance message encourages consumers to eat healthier and make better food choices by communicating about general dietary patterns, practices and recommendations that promote health.

• The only other existing dietary guidance statement is, “Diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancer and other chronic diseases.”

• Dietary guidance statements draw a relationship between a food and a health condition, whereas health claims show a relationship between a specific nutrient or other substance (such as omega-3 fatty acids) found in a food and a health condition.