New U. S. Guidelines: Less Alcohol, More Protein, and Fewer Processed Foods

The U. S. government has just rolled out its latest set of dietary guidelines. This time, they're taking a different approach to alcohol. Instead of telling people to stick to one or two drinks a day, they're simply advising folks to drink less. This shift is part of the bigger 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. These guidelines are a big deal. They shape everything from doctor's advice to what kids eat for lunch at school. The new guidelines also suggest eating more protein, cutting back on sugar, and steering clear of heavily processed foods. These changes are all part of the Trump administration's "Make America Healthy Again" plan. This initiative is backed by a conservative movement that also pushes for fewer vaccine requirements for kids. Not everyone is on board with the new alcohol advice. Groups like the U. S. Alcohol Policy Alliance and the Center for Science in the Public Interest are worried. They think this change could lead to people drinking more, since they'll be left to define "moderation" on their own. Other health experts, including the World Health Organization, have warned that even small amounts of alcohol can increase health risks, like certain cancers.Interestingly, a Gallup poll from last year found that more Americans are drinking less than ever before. Over half of them believe that even moderate drinking can be harmful. In fact, the average number of drinks per person per week is at its lowest since the 1990s. However, this decline is only by about one drink per week, according to market research firm IWSR. For the first time, the recommendations for drinking were handled separately from the rest of the nutritional advice. Two different studies were commissioned to inform the alcohol guidelines. One study, done during Biden's presidency, found that health risks can increase with as little as one drink per day. The other study, preferred by the alcohol industry, suggested that moderate drinking is linked to a lower risk of death from any cause. During Trump's first term, U. S. health officials also rejected advice from scientists to tighten the drinking recommendations for a previous set of federal guidelines. This shows that the government has been hesitant to make strict rules about alcohol consumption.