What do you get when an unqualified worm-man with a history of criminal behavior, substance abuse, and dissemination of conspiracy driven false information is appointed the head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)? The latest edition of the “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” (DGA) and this piece of anti-scientific, non-evidence-based bullshit assembled by a group of unqualified people.
Here it is, the new Dept of HHS recommendation in graphic form
Like the vaccination schedule, the new “DGA” are based on feelings, conspiracy and fear mongering. They are not rooted in science and make little sense. Unqualified and in some cases actually incompetent people wrote them.
The logical suggestions that are in the DGA were already present in previous, uncompromised versions. In othewords, they did not fuck with parts of the scientific evidence that fit their narrative. Yes, eating more vegetables is great! So is eating more fruit and grains, with emphasis on whole grains. Unfortunately, there is some clearly fundamental misunderstanding about how nutrients and foods impact health and how people eat and live in the US compared to the oh so beloved “Blue Zones.”
There is misunderstanding about what grains are and why we need (yes, need) them. There appaears to be an absence of understanding and care taken regarding which foods contribute which nutrients and how nutrients function in the body. Grains are an important source of vitamins and fiber.
It is my opinion that at least part, if not most, of our collective obsession with meat-based protein in the United States can be summed up in this part of the Chinese Exclusion Act: Meat vs Rice — American Manhood vs. Asiatic Coolieism. Which Shall Survive? (1902) When I look at the HHS pyramid, I am reminded of the 1902 position on rice. Given the current immigration policy and actions of ICE, I have a difficult time thinking this is just ignorance on the part of RFK and panel of “experts.”
Plant foods – grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds make up the main part of a heart-healthy eating pattern as evidenced by thousands of independent, peer-reviewed research studies. Search PubMed. You will see. People around the world eat these foods as the majority of their calories.
The more saturated fat people eat – when consistently taking making up more than 7-10% of calories consumed a day – increases the risk of heart disease and other chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes. Saturated fat, when kept at less than 7-10% of caloric intake, is not a concern. I’ll say that again – saturated fat itself is not a concern unless it makes up too much of a person’s eating pattern. Yes, I am aware of Inuit People. The traditional weather and access to food is unique Most people are not Inuit and the climate in those areas has warmed.
Politics always influence and muck up parts of the DGAs. For example, it took decades to get added sugars added to the guidelines because of the power of different agricultural lobbyists. Scientists recommended and advocated for their inclusion long before the recommendation to limit added sugars was adopted. Calcium and vitamin D (and other nutrients) are important for bone health. Dairy is an easy way to get those nutrients but it is not the only way. The presence of a dairy group in a dairy group on MyPlate is largely influenced by dairy lobbying.
We have never before seen all of the qualified experts removed from the DGA panel and replaced with entirely unqualified people. It is like going in for surgery and finding out the surgeon is actually a tattoo artist, or taking a car in for repair and having the work done by a gold medal swimmer whose only experience with cars is to drive one. We have not ever before experienced a Dept of HHS leader put forward conspiracy theories, personal preferences, and propose recommendations that will increase harm to people and the planet.
Below are some credible and reliable resources that you might find useful now and/or in the future.
1. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 2025-2030 DGAs
2. Nutrition Fact Check from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
3. Check out Dr. Jessica Knurick’s substack!
5. Mayo Clinic – Mediterranean Diet
6. Cleveland Clinic – Mediterranean Diet
7. Australia’s Food Guide – Eat for Health
8.American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics – For Your Heart Health – DASH Diet and Lifestyle
9. American Heart Association – Heart Healthy Diet / Managing High Blood Pressure with Diet
10. CSPI Shares Uncompromised DGA
11. UC Davis Dept of Nutrition Comment on New DGA
12. Vox Food Pyramid and DGAs / MAHA and Protein
I am a nutrition science professor. I earned a MS in Human Nutrition and a PhD in Nutritional Biology with an emphasis in immunology. While I am more qualified than anyone on the current DGA panel that came up with the 2025-2030 guidelines, I am not someone who would or should be considered for the DGA panel of experts because there are research scientists, dietitians and other people better qualified than me. I would never apply to be on the panel because establishing DGAs – which include nutrient recommendations for vitamins and minerals – is out of my expertise. I am well qualified to evaluate, teach about, implement or choose not to implement the DGA based on the scientific evidence used (or not used) to develop them.
NutrSci with Mardi Parelman, PhD 
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