What does the word 'healthy' mean to you? Do you consider yourself a healthy eater? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is updating the definition of 'healthy' as a claim on food labeling. Will it amount to a hill of beans?
American eating patterns don't match the FDA dietary guidelines for a healthy lifestyle. A recent survey revealed that 75% of people don't eat enough vegetables, fruits, and dairy. Sixty-three percent exceed the limit for added sugars, 77% exceed the limit for saturated fats, and a whopping 90% go over the limit for sodium. The results are expensive and heartbreaking. Food choices in the U.S. contribute to heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Updating the 'healthy' definition is the FDA's most recent effort to reduce diet-related chronic diseases. The current claim for healthy was established in 1994. It limits total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium in foods. Additionally, the foods must provide at least 10% of the Daily Value for at least one of the following: vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, protein, or fiber. The FDA now proposes to update the standard by concentrating on nutrient-dense foods. Under the new definition, raw whole fruits and vegetables would automatically be healthy because they are high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, a nutrient profile that contributes positively not only to nutrient needs but also to a robust gut microbiome. Other changes to our definition of healthy food Foods that would qualify as healthy with the new standard but are not currently healthy include avocados, nuts, seeds, fatty fish such as salmon, and certain oils. These are nutritionally-dense whole foods but were not considered healthy by the old standard due to their high-fat content. However, views on fats are evolving. Mostly harmless and essential to life on earth, water is not on the healthy list now but will become healthy in the update as an alternative to "banned" beverages naturally rich or high in added sugars, such as fruit juices or soft drinks. While currently healthy, white bread, highly-sweetened yogurts, and breakfast cereals would be expelled from the list. Does this seem confusing? Orange…