Dietary guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid.

O ur diet provides energy and nutrients to fuel activity and support body functions. Body functions include growth, maintaining tissue health and fighting infections. The balance of nutrients and nonnutrients in our food choices can promote health and prevent disease or increase susceptibility to both systemic and oral diseases. Poor food choices leading to too little or too much energy intake, too little or too much nutrient intake or too much nonnutrient (for example, cholesterol, saturated fat, sodium) intake can increase the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cancer, as well as dental caries, periodontal disease and tooth loss. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is charged with overseeing the nutritional health of the nation. As part of this charge, the USDA develops dietary recommendations designed to prevent diseases associated with food and/or nutrient deficiencies or excesses. Historically, the recommendations have been based on the best available science from human observational studies, clinical trials and animal studies. Recommendations are modified continuously as new science emerges, the food supply changes and/or the consumer’s environment changes (for example, food preparation behaviors). The USDA recently revised the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid to help consumers make better food choices.