Dietary guidelines and goal-setting.

Every five years the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture issue a report containing ‘nutritional and dietary information and guidelines for the general public’, meant to help individuals select nutritious, health-promoting diets. At the writing of this editorial, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) has just completed its last meeting before finalizing the report that will serve as the basis for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010, due out later this year. Among the anticipated changes in the guidelines are: (i) a greater emphasis on plant-based diets; (ii) a more specific focus on added sugar, fats and refined carbohydrates instead of the more general ‘discretionary calories’; and (iii) an emphasis on decreasing sodium intake to 2300 mg per 8368 kJ (2000 kcal) diet or 1500 mg for individuals with hypertension.