Americans could soon be told to eat less red meat and more plant-based foods under new government guidelines. A report has recommended several updates to the U.S. dietary guidelines which are due to be renewed next year under the Trump administration. The report states people should emphasize plant-based proteins such as beans, peas and lentils and limit their consumption of red and processed meats.
This was based on a review of numerous studies which linked the meats to a higher risk of diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Researchers said that overall people should consume 26 ounces of meat per week, but that 'less' of this should come from red meats. They also encouraged people to eat more whole grains, such as oatmeal, buckwheat and quinoa, instead of refined grains like white flour and white rice.
They made other recommendations that are already in place, such as decreasing the intake of sugary drinks, sodium and processed foods. The recommendations come from an advisory committee to the Agriculture Department, made up of 20 professors in the public health and medical sectors. The advice was based on a review of dozens of studies, including some that suggested high meat consumption was linked with diabetes, cancer and dementia.
The new recommendations need to be signed off by the new secretaries of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) after they take office in January. These secretaries will come together to agree on the new dietary guidelines, which are expected to become available by late 2025 and be based on the best scientific evidence.
Donald Trump has nominated RFK Jr. to lead the HHS, who is known to be a fan of eating anything 'found in nature', including red meats, and to also follow 'intermittent fasting' -- involving only eating between the times of 12 pm and 7 pm -- according to the New York Times . But he says he never eats processed foods. Trump himself is famous for his love of steak and McDonald's.
A doctor tipped to become Trump's heart disease czar told DailyMail.com that there was no good evidence that red meat causes health issues -- and that the problem is with processed foods like hotdogs and cheeseburgers. Some researchers criticized the report, saying its recommendation to eat less red meat was based on only 17 percent of the clinical trials it used. Dr Nina Teicholz, a writer with a PhD in nutrition, said online: 'The committee was not a stickler for rigorous evidence when it came to advising reductions in meat, poultry and eggs. 'These changes, if adopted, would exacerbate our disease epidemics.
'Plant sources like peas and beans pack a hefty load of carbohydrates and calories for the same amount of protein, making them a far less healthy option for people with metabolic conditions such as obesity and diabetes who need to be mindful of controlling their blood sugars.'
Dr Teicholz is engaged in an advocacy campaign to reshape how the US government determines a healthy diet, which has been bankrolled by billionaire philanthropists John and Laura Arnold. Dr Marion Nestle, a food policy expert in New York, added: 'This particular statement says nothing about balancing calories when overconsumption of calories especially from ultra-processed foods is the biggest challenge to the health of Americans.'
In the review, the scientists write: 'The committee recommends... emphasizing dietary intakes of beans, peas and lentils while reducing intakes of red and processed meats, as supported by systematic reviews.' Overall for those on a 2,000-calorie diet, they are now recommending consuming 10 ounces or two-and-a-half cups of beans, peas and lentils per week. For comparison, the previous guidelines recommended consuming about six ounces or one-and-a-half cups per week. Their recommendation for meat, poultry and eggs remained the same at 26 ounces per week.
To off-set the rise in energy in the diet, they recommended slashing consumption of starchy vegetables -- like potatoes and corns -- by one cup. They recommended a shift to four cups of starchy vegetables per week instead of the guideline five cups. The report also said that beans, peas and lentils should now be listed under the protein category, whereas previously they were listed under both the protein and vegetable categories. They also said that they should be the leading source of protein, while nuts and seafood should also be moved up to be a better source of protein than meats. Data shows that six ounces of black beans, for example, contain about 15 grams of protein, while the same portion of lentils contains 14 grams of the substance.
Almonds contain 51 grams of protein in the same portion size, while sardines contain about 40 grams. For comparison, a six-ounce steak contains around 46 grams of protein, while the same helping of burger patties contains 43 grams. Scientists say that people need about 0.36 grams of protein for every pound of body weight every day. This means that a woman weighing 140lbs would need about 53 grams of protein per day, while a man weighing 180lbs would need about 65 grams.
The public will now have 60 days to comment on the guidance. The HHS and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will meat in the new year to discuss the new guidelines.