On January 7, the Trump Administration introduced guidelines that encourage Americans to consume more protein and less sugar and highly processed foods.

The guidelines also ease the recommendations regarding alcohol and praise the benefits of red meat, dairy, and butter, which concerns some doctors and nutritionists who claim that such guidance could be confusing and even harmful.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that the updated guidelines, which include a new, inverted food pyramid prioritizing the consumption of protein, dairy, healthy fats, vegetables, and fruits, emphasize the importance of eating “real” food. “Nothing is more crucial for health outcomes, economic productivity, and military readiness,” Kennedy said at a White House press briefing.

EAT REAL FOOD.

— Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy)

The guidelines reflect many of Kennedy’s own views on nutrition and the priorities of his Make America Healthy Again movement. They advise people to significantly cut down on highly processed foods, which Kennedy has repeatedly blamed as the source of what he calls… The term “highly processed foods” is not clearly defined in the guidelines but is described as foods “loaded with refined carbohydrates, added sugars, excess sodium, unhealthy fats, and chemical additives.”

The guidelines also encourage the consumption of larger amounts of protein, including from animal sources like red meat, poultry, and eggs, compared to what previous guidelines recommended, and suggest that people eat full-fat dairy and cook with butter and beef tallow. These foods contain saturated fats, which earlier dietary guidelines had urged people to avoid. Research on the health risks of saturated fats has been inconsistent, but it has mostly shown that consuming too much of them can…

Kennedy and others in the Trump Administration have argued that saturated fats have been unfairly demonized and are actually essential for a healthy diet. “We are ending the war on saturated fats,” Kennedy said on Wednesday.

However, although Kennedy and other Trump officials had previously hinted that they were looking to relax the restrictions on saturated fats, the revised dietary guidance maintained the long – standing recommendation of limiting the consumption of such fats to 10% of daily calories.

Marion Nestle, a professor emerita of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University, said this advice was contradictory. “If you increase the amount of protein, meat, and full-fat dairy in your diet, you won’t be able to keep your saturated fat intake below 10% of calories, and it will be more difficult to maintain calorie balance,” since fat has twice the calories of proteins or carbohydrates, Nestle said in an email.

The American Heart Association, which recommends that people limit the consumption of saturated fats to…, said it was concerned about some of the protein – related recommendations in the updated guidelines.

“Protein is an essential part of a healthy diet, and we call for more scientific research on both the appropriate amount of protein consumption and the best protein sources for optimal health,” the group said in a… “Until that research is done, we encourage consumers to prioritize plant – based proteins, seafood, and lean meats and to limit high – fat animal products including red meat, butter, lard, and tallow, which are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.”

Some doctors and nutritionists said they generally approved of the advice to eat less sugar and fewer highly processed foods. “That is the greatest strength of these recommendations,” Nestle said.

Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, president of the American Medical Association, said in a… that the group commended the updated guidelines “for highlighting the highly processed foods, sugar – sweetened beverages, and excess sodium that contribute to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other chronic illnesses.”

Some, however, warned against rejecting all processed foods. Dr. Neal Barnard, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, said that some foods considered processed can be healthy, such as breakfast cereals and breads fortified with vitamins and other nutrients.

“The Guidelines are wrong in promoting meat and dairy products, which are the main causes of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity,” Barnard said in a… “The Guidelines take a heavy – handed approach to processed foods, but plant – based and vitamin – fortified processed foods actually reduce the risk of birth defects, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.”

Some health experts said they were also worried about the Trump Administration’s decision to abandon specific alcohol consumption limits. Previous dietary guidelines had advised men to limit alcohol consumption to two drinks a day, and women were urged to have no more than one drink per day. The updated guidance only says that people should “consume less alcohol for better overall health” and that certain people, including pregnant women and those recovering from alcohol use disorder, should avoid alcohol completely.

“Alcohol is a social lubricant that brings people together,” said Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, when asked to explain the change at the White House press briefing. “In the best – case scenario, I don’t think you should drink alcohol, but it does give people an excuse to connect and socialize, and there’s probably nothing healthier than having a good time with friends in a safe way.”

The World Health Organization… that no amount of alcohol is safe for health. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that drinking alcohol increases a person’s…, including mouth, colon, and breast cancer.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans is updated every five years and will next be revised in 2030. The guidelines set standards for many government – funded food assistance and meal programs, including the National School Lunch Program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).