The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) issued the following statement following the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) release of the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans:
“The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 is the first set of guidelines that provide recommendations for healthy dietary patterns by life stage, from birth through older adulthood, including pregnant and lactating women as well as infants and toddlers. Released today by USDA and HHS, the updated guidelines provide insight into the important role that dietary practices have on health, identifying key nutritional needs and gaps that exist across the lifespan of Americans. The guidelines are an important resource that can help Americans improve their dietary practices and healthy lifestyles.
“Critical health and nutritional needs that require improved nutritional support and dietary habits exist at key points in life, including during pregnancy, at birth, adolescence, through middle age, and during the aging process. By assessing these age-related issues, the guidelines provide sound science-based advice on dietary behaviors needed to promote health, help reduce the risk of chronic disease, and meet nutrient requirements where major gaps exist. Major recommendations include eating nutrient dense foods, especially more fruits and vegetables, which can help meet the healthy nutrient recommendations provided in the guidelines.
“In assessing how dietary intake aligns with the guidelines’ Healthy Eating Index, USDA and HHS found that across all age groups Americans are falling short of their daily nutrient needs. Given that 75 percent of Americans don’t consume enough nutrient dense fruits and vegetables, health risks due to poor dietary practices continue to be an important public health issue.
“More consumer education is needed to help Americans improve dietary practices and reduce risks of chronic health issues. While healthy diets are important to establishing healthy lifestyles, existing nutrient gaps can be overcome with appropriate nutrient supplementation as defined in the report across all age groups. As advocates for responsible personal health and self-care practices, CHPA supports expanded consumer health and nutrition education and the use of dietary supplements to fill nutrient gaps when recommended dietary practices have not yet been met.”
