Racial bias in federal, nutrition policy, part II: Weak guidelines take a disproportionate toll

Many diet-related chronic diseases rake a disproportionate toll among membe rs of racial minorities. Research shows the prevalence of diabetes, hyperte nsion, cancer, and heart disease is higher among various ethnic groups comp ared with whites. The Guidelines and the Food Guide Pyramid, however, promo te the use of multiple servings of meats and dairy products each day and do not encourage replacing these foods with vegetables, legumes, fruits, and grains. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourage a 30% caloric reduct ion in Far intake and make no provision for further reductions for those wh o wish to minimize health risks. Abundant evidence has shown that regular e xercise combined with diets lower in Fat and richer in plant products than is encouraged by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans are associated with r educed risk of these chronic conditions. While ineffective Dietary Guidelin es potentially put all Americans at unnecessary risk, this is particularly true for those groups hardest hit by chronic disease.