Eat Less Meat, More Beans & Lentils for Protein, New USDA Guidelines Say

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Eat Less Meat, More Beans & Lentils for Protein, New USDA Guidelines Say









By Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Dec. 13, 2024 -- Beans, peas, and lentils take center stage in newly proposed changes to dietary guidelines for Americans.

In a report released this week by an advisory committee to the Agriculture Department, experts suggest that protein-packed legumes are the perfect substitute for red or processed meat. They analyzed scientific evidence on the topic to reach that conclusion.

If adopted, the new guidelines would emphasize plant-based proteins and encourage people to eat more whole grains, less sugary drinks, less salt, and less processed foods.

"Compelling evidence was noted in the systematic reviews in which dietary patterns that had higher levels of beans, peas, and lentils often presented in the literature as "legum" were associated with beneficial health outcomes," Port stated.

Meanwhile,  "system" tic review evidence consistently indicated that dietary patterns with higher red and processed meat intakes were related to detrimental health consequences. In contrast, nutritional patterns with higher intakes of fish and seafood were related to beneficial health outcomes.

Why is there a big push for legumes?

 "There evidence to suggest that a dietary pattern high in beans, peas, and lentils is associated with lower chronic disease risk, "Angel Odoms-Young, vice chair of the advisory committee and a professor of maternal and child nutrition at Cornell University, told NBC.

How far did the committee endorse beans, peas, and lentils?

Under the existing dietary guidelines, the trio of vegetables is categorized as both vegetables and protein foods. However, the committee recommended removing them from the vegetable group and putting them at the top of the list of protein-heavy foods. Why? To encourage people to eat more plant-based protein.

The updated guidelines take into account numerous published studies on long-term links between meat-based diets and chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and cutting back on meat and upping consumption of legumes could help counter that trend, Odoms-Young said.

The report also recommends that people reduce their intake of sweetened drinks and salt while increasing their intake of whole grains, which should make up 50% of all grains eaten.

The report has been submitted to the Agriculture Department and the Department of Health and Human Services for review, and a 60-day public comment period is underway. If enacted, they would take effect next year and last until 2030." When we look at the evidence around how those things impact people, we see that the major diseases, chronic diseases, that are responsible for preventable deaths are linked to those excess consumptions [of unhealthy foods], "advised advisory committee member Cheryl Anderson, dean of the University of California, SanDiego'st Wertman School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, told NBC News.

The committee members said they considered how to factor in differences in socioeconomic status and access to grocery stores when crafting the proposed changes.

"We are making these recommendations with the hope that people can follow the guidance no matter where they live, learn, work, play, or pray, "Ander said.


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