It’s a Crime to Be Unhealthy!
#7 of 10 Articles by Well Connected Communities Coalition
UT-TSU Extension Madison County
By Susan Holloway, Program Assistant WCC
Have you ever wondered about those recommendations called Dietary Guidelines? You know, the ones we
quote that tell which foods are best for us and how much of each we should eat each day. You can find new
publications with the latest information online at DietaryGuidelines.gov and it is titled Dietary Guidelines for
Americans 2020-2025. It is 165 pages in length. Yes, it is rewritten every five years. This is their ninth edition
meaning the government has researched, analyzed, debated how we should eat for over 45 years. Many agencies
that are Agriculture, Health, Human Services, Engineering, Science, Medical, etc. designated hundreds of
employees, and millions of dollars to develop these recommendations. Should we not hear what they say and try to
follow their suggestions?
The following are highlights of Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025:
1. Foods and beverages that people consume have a profound impact on their health.
2. Scientific connection between food and health has been well documented for many decades, with substantial
and increasingly robust evidence showing that a healthy lifestyle—including following a healthy dietary pattern—
can help people achieve and maintain good health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases throughout all stages
of the lifespan: infancy and toddlerhood, childhood and adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy and lactation, and
older adulthood.
3. The most common illnesses related to nutrition we have in America are:
¾ of us weigh too much, ½ of children, teens, persons ages 45-59 are Obese.
Heart Disease is #1 while 7% of children have high cholesterol.
High Blood Pressure and High Total Cholesterol have greatest numbers in females, blacks, elderly.
35 million people have Diabetes in America.
Most common types of cancer are Colorectal in men and Breast in women. More than 1.3 million people are
living with colorectal cancer.
70 million people have reduced bone and muscle strength called Osteoporosis. Especially in the elderly.
Question: How do you keep from being one of these numbers?
Answer: Refer back to my first highlight -- Foods and beverages that people consume have a profound
impact on their health.
4. Try the MyPlate.gov A healthy eating routine is important at every stage of life and can have positive effects
that add up over time. It is important to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy or fortified soy alternatives,
and protein foods. When deciding what to eat or drink, choose options that are full of nutrients. That means
avoiding high sugar, high fat, and high salt foods. Make every bite count. Your body will appreciate it.
