This year’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans were released with a notable footnote. Although the scientific report that informed the guidelines advocated for significant reductions in the consumption of added sugars and alcoholic beverages as part of a healthy diet, these recommendations did not make it into the final guidelines. The scientific report suggested that added sugars should account for no more than 6% of total calorie intake—down from 10% in the 2015 edition—and that adults should limit their alcohol consumption to one drink per day, a decrease from the previous recommendations of two drinks for men and one for women. The recommendations concerning added sugar and alcohol consumption remained unchanged in the 2020 report.
In response, the USDA and HHS asserted that there was “not a preponderance of evidence … to substantiate changes” in the daily intake of these substances. The report emphasizes the importance of limiting added sugars and alcohol, and the departments called for further research into their health impacts. Nonetheless, substantial recent studies have highlighted the health risks associated with added sugars. A significant feature of the updated Nutrition Facts label now includes a section indicating the amount of added sugars in a product. Furthermore, local policies have emerged in recent years, with states and municipalities implementing taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, which account for 24% of added sugar consumption, according to the new Dietary Guidelines. These taxes were supported by research demonstrating the need for reduced consumption of these products.
The FDA notes that added sugars appear on Nutrition Facts labels because they contribute many calories without providing essential nutrients. While this is accurate, studies have also established that added sugars negatively affect overall health, contributing to obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Research from 2019 found a significant link between sugary beverage consumption and cancer, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health cites studies that connect sugary drinks to an increased risk of heart attack, gout, bone health issues, and overall mortality.
Similarly, various studies have indicated that alcohol consumption poses health risks beyond the immediate dangers of intoxication. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been presenting research on the association between alcohol and cancer since 2014. Many in the medical and scientific communities have criticized the guidelines, arguing that the government has overlooked substantial scientific evidence in its recommendations. Researcher Marion Nestle vocalized this concern on her blog, stating, “USDA and HHS overrode the scientific decisions of the DGAC. So much for ‘science-based’ dietary guidelines.”
However, it is important to note that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans are just that: guidelines. According to the 2020 report, if the average American diet were scored on a scale from 1 to 100—where 100 indicates full adherence to the guidelines—it would score only 59. This suggests there is considerable room for improvement, indicating that many individuals may not be well-informed about the guidelines.
Overall, Americans are beginning to improve their dietary habits. Increased awareness of the connection between food and health, partly due to the coronavirus pandemic, has led many to prioritize healthier eating. A 2018 Ipsos study revealed that seven out of ten individuals were concerned about the sugar content in their diets, and reports from Nielsen in 2019 indicated that 66% of millennials were actively trying to cut back on alcohol consumption. These positive trends are likely to persist, regardless of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
As a side note, for individuals curious about dietary supplements, there is a common question regarding whether calcium citrate makes you poop. While calcium citrate is generally well-tolerated, it can cause gastrointestinal effects in some people, including changes in bowel movements. This highlights the importance of understanding how various dietary choices and supplements can impact health.