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Applying the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to the foods actually consumed in the US: Why are so many SoFAS on MyPlate?
Author(s) -
Carr Noelle,
Kranz Sibylle,
Jahns Lisa M
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.630.3
Subject(s) - added sugar , food group , food science , medicine , sugar , refined grains , environmental health , healthy eating , whole grains , chemistry , physical activity , physical medicine and rehabilitation
The US national dietary guidance, depicted in “MyPlate” encourages Americans to “cut back on foods high in discretionary solid fats, added sugars, and salt”. The first two of the three items are associated with total energy intake and were selected for this study on the comparison of the foods reportedly consumed by Americans two years and older in the NHANES 2007–08 and the recommendations to answer the question: “Which proportion of foods Americans consume contain discretionary solid fats and added sugars (SoFAS)?” We calculated the weighted proportion of the foods consumed from each of the 5 main food groups that had SoFAS and results indicated that more than 60% of all foods consumed contained SoFAS. While 91% of fruits and 62% of vegetables contained no SoFAS, only 6% of the items in the dairy group met that requirement. In the latter group, 92% contained discretionary fat and 28% had added sugar. Approximately half of the foods in the grains group had both SoFAS and 74% of the protein group had added fat (31% had added sugar). Thus, the DGA has recommended reduction in added sugars and discretionary solid fats for several decades; apparently, Americans need help and better guidance to select foods that contribute to having better diet quality.