National Health Goals

Introduction

Guidelines for Healthy Eating

• National dietary recommendations provide a sound plan for good nutrition.
• The revised dietary guidelines provide specific suggestions for eating healthier.
• Nutritional diet recommendations provide a target zone for healthy eating.
• Food labels provide consumers with detailed information to help make good food choices.

Dietary Recommendations for Carbohydrates

• Complex carbohydrates should be the principle source of calories in the diet.
• Dietary fiber is not considered as a separate dietary nutrient, but it is considered to be important for overall good nutrition and health.
• Fruits and vegetables are essential for good health.
• Some recommendations can be followed to assure healthy amounts of carbohydrate in the diet.

Dietary Recommendations for Fat

• Fat is an essential nutrient and is an important energy source.
• Saturated fat is associated with an increased risk for disease.
• Trans fat and hydrogenated vegetable oils should be minimized in the diet.
• Fat substitutes and neutraceuticals in food products may reduce fat consumption and lower cholesterol.
• Some recommendations can be followed to assure healthy amounts of fat in the diet.

Dietary Recommendations for Proteins

• Protein is the basic building block for the body, but dietary protein constitutes a relatively small amount of daily calorie intake.
• Vegetarian diets may provide sufficient protein but care must be used.
• Some recommendations can be followed to assure healthy amounts of protein in the diet.

Dietary Recommendations for Vitamins

• Adequate vitamin intake is necessary to good health and wellness, but excessive vitamin intake is not necessary and can be harmful.
• Fortification of foods has been used to ensure adequate vitamin intake in the population
• Taking a daily multiple vitamin supplement may be a good idea.
• Some recommendations can be followed to assure healthy amounts of vitamins in the diet.

Dietary Recommendations for Minerals

• Adequate mineral intake is necessary for good health and wellness, but excessive mineral intake is not necessary and can be harmful.
• Some recommendations can be followed to assure healthy amounts of minerals in the diet.

Dietary Recommendations for Water and Other Fluids

• Water is a critical component in the healthy diet.
• Beverages other than water are a part of many diets, but some beverages can have an adverse effect on good health.
• Some recommendations can be followed to assure healthy amounts of water and other fluids in the diet.

Sound Eating Practices

• Consistency (with variety) is a good general rule of nutrition.
• Moderation is a good general rule of nutrition.
• Minimizing your reliance on fast foods is a sound eating practice.
• Minimize your consumption of overly processed foods and foods high in saturated fat or hydrogenated fats.
• Healthy snacks can be an important part of good nutrition.

Nutrition and Physical Performance

• Some basic dietary guidelines exist for active people.
• Carbohydrate loading and carbohydrate replacement during exercise can enhance sustained aerobic performances.
• The timing may be more important than the makeup of the pre-event meal.
• People who are interested in enhancing physical performance are especially subject to nutrition quackery.
• Legislation designed to regulate food supplements has not been effective in protecting the consumer.

Strategies for Action

• An analysis of your current diet is a good first step in making future decisions about what you eat.
• Making small changes in diet patterns can have a big impact.

Web Resources

Suggested Readings