Purdue News
Purdue News
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May 26, 2000 'ABC's of Health' put a new spin on dietary guidelinesWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The alphabet is one of the first things a child learns when he starts school. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture hope to convince adults that practicing their ABC's is just as important for them as it is for their children. New dietary guidelines for Americans are scheduled for release Wednesday (5/31), and they have taken on a new, more user-friendly format. The "ABC's of Health" consist of three main concepts. Bill Evers, Purdue University Extension specialist in foods and nutrition, said that knowing the guidelines fit into three groups will help people remember them. "They used to list seven guidelines, but never had a catchy way of saying them," he said. "A" is for "Aim for Fitness," which stresses the need for a healthy weight and physical activity. According to the guidelines, choosing a lifestyle that combines sensible eating with regular physical activity is the key to good health. The guidelines suggest 30 minutes of physical activity each day for adults and 60 minutes a day for children. Physical activity can be something as simple as parking farther from the door at the store, raking leaves or cleaning the house. Another good way to be physically active is to participate in activities such as swimming, bicycling or walking. "B" is for "Building a Healthy Base," suggesting that individuals use the Food Guide Pyramid to choose a variety of grains daily, especially whole grains, as well as a daily variety of fruits and vegetables. The new dietary guidelines also highlight safe food preparation and storage tips as part of "Building a Healthy Base." "Food safety is now recognized as a guideline, where it was not before," Evers said. "There also is more emphasis on the bottom of the Food Guide Pyramid. The grains, cereals, fruits and vegetables have always been important, but now they're emphasized even more." The final "C," "Choose Sensibly," stresses the need to make sensible choices to promote health and reduce the risk of disease. According to the new dietary guidelines, all foods can be part of a healthy diet as long as fat, sugar, salt and alcohol consumption are limited. According to Evers, the new dietary guidelines aren't really new rules, they're guidelines that have been revamped and expanded. "There has been a shift in emphasis, a shift toward the knowledge that physical activity is as important as watching weight and calories," he said. Purdue foods and nutrition professors had a hand in shaping the new guidelines. "Rick Mattes' research dealing with fats, Jon Story's work on cholesterol, and Connie Weaver's work on calcium have all helped determine where the guidelines should be focused," Evers said. Source: William Evers, (765) 494-8546, eversb@cfs.purdue.edu Writer: Kay Hostetler, (765) 494-8402, news_students@aes.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu Related Web sites:
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