The Dietary Guidelines for Americans aren't based on rigorous science, yet they influence everything we eat. Nina Teicholz and I discuss what needs to change and how we can make it happen.
Soil health is critical for our environment and for growing a diversity of crops. But does healthy soil also make healthier people?
Cinnamon rolls, chocolate milk, pizza, and biscuits. Do these sound like healthy foods to you? According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), these foods meet our standards and can be fed to our children, military, seniors, and just about everyone else.
A clear disconnect exists between what rigorous science suggests is healthy and what the guidelines recommend. Why does this disconnect exist, and what can we do about it?
Award-winning journalist and author Nina Teicholz joins us to talk about the DGA, reviewing what has changed (and hasn't changed) in the past few years and what we can do about it.
Nina dedicates herself - along with the advocacy group she founded, The Nutrition Coalition - to promoting the need for rigorous scientific evaluation of the DGA. While we've made some progress, you'll hear how conflicts of interest, scientific contradictions, and willful disregard of science continue to permeate the guidelines.
The information Nina uncovered sounds like a fictional spy thriller, but it is all true, and will likely infuriate you. But don't get dejected. You can make a difference. You can help make sure future versions of the DGA are based on science, and Nina tells you how.
About the video
Virtual podcast recorded in September 2022, published in October 2022.
Host: Dr. Bret Scher
Producer: Hari Dewang
David Montgomery, PhD, and Anne Biklé wrote a new book, What Your Food Ate, stating that, yes, healthy soil can lead to healthier people. And the research from Stephan Van Vliet, PhD, appears to support that claim.
Produce grown on healthier soil leads to healthier plants. Animals that eat these plants have more of the potentially healthful phytonutrients. Therefore, humans who eat the plants or animals will also potentially benefit from the greater nutrients.
Will this translate to better human health? We don't know the answer yet. But it is a fascinating discussion and an important topic as we look to the future of agriculture and farming.
About the video
Virtual podcast recorded in September 2022, published in October 2022.
Host: Dr. Bret Scher
Producer: Hari Dewang
Table of contents
00:00 Introduction
01:24 The current state of the US Dietary Guideline
08:44 Who's responsible for this recommendation?
13:58 USDA ignoring the science on low carb diets
20:34 The White House conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health
27:36 USDA doesn't acknowledge individualized diet interventions
34:25 The disclosure of conflict of interest for the guideline committee
39:28 Having an independent nutrition guideline free from conflicts of interest
42:19 Contradictions of science and recommendations from the guideline
47:46 An opportunity to push the movement further
52:25 Final thoughts All podcasts
