Diet Planning Guidelines
Updated every five years, this set of guidelines helps Americans make healthy food choices and avoid chronic disease.
What are the Dietary Guidelines for Americans?
This type of carbohydrate is made up of simple sugars and includes glucose, fructose, and galactose.
What are monosaccharides?
This type of fat, often found in butter and lard, is known to raise LDL cholesterol levels and is solid at room temperature.
What is saturated fat?
This mineral is crucial for building and maintaining strong bones and teeth and is found in dairy products and leafy greens.
What is calcium?
This type of diet is often used for patients who are recovering from surgery or illness and includes foods that are easily digested, like broths, popsicles, and clear juices.
What is a clear liquid diet?
These are the five food groups represented in the MyPlate model for a balanced diet.
What is "fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy"?
These carbohydrates are composed of two sugar units and include sucrose and lactose.
What are disaccharides?
Found in foods like olive oil, avocados, and nuts, this type of fat helps to reduce LDL cholesterol and is liquid at room temperature.
What is unsaturated fat?
Excessive intake of this mineral can lead to high blood pressure and fluid retention, commonly found in table salt and processed foods.
What is sodium?
Designed to provide complete nutrition while being easy to digest, this diet includes items like milk, soups, and fruit juices.
What is a full liquid diet?
This visual guide divides food into five categories and emphasizes filling half your plate with these two food groups.
What are fruits and vegetables?
This complex carbohydrate is commonly found in whole grains, legumes, and vegetables and is known for its role in digestive health.
What is fiber?
These fats, commonly found in processed foods and partially hydrogenated oils, are known to increase LDL cholesterol and decrease HDL cholesterol.
What are trans fats?
This mineral helps regulate fluid balance, muscle contractions, and nerve signals, and is commonly found in bananas and oranges.
What is potassium?
This diet is recommended for individuals with diabetes and focuses on managing blood glucose levels through controlled carbohydrate intake.
What is a diabetic diet?
This section of MyPlate is recommended to be the smallest portion, emphasizing lean sources and plant-based alternatives.
What is protein?
This type of carbohydrate, often referred to as "bad carbs," is quickly digested and can lead to rapid spikes in blood sugar levels.
What are simple carbohydrates?
This substance, which is found in animal products and can be synthesized by the liver, is important for cell membrane structure but can contribute to heart disease if levels are too high.
What is cholesterol?
This mineral is essential for the formation of hemoglobin and is found in red meats, beans, and fortified cereals.
What is iron?
Patients on this diet have their intake of sodium reduced, which can help manage conditions such as hypertension and heart disease.
What is a low-sodium diet?
These are the set of nutrient intake recommendations used to assess and plan the diets of healthy people.
What are Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs)?
These carbohydrates are made up of long chains of sugar molecules and provide a more sustained source of energy compared to simple carbohydrates.
What are complex carbohydrates?
This type of fat is considered the most harmful to cardiovascular health because it both raises bad cholesterol levels and lowers good cholesterol levels.
What are trans fats?
This trace mineral plays a role in enhancing the action of insulin and can be found in foods like whole grains, nuts, and broccoli.
What is chromium?
This diet is tailored for individuals who need to increase their protein intake for weight gain, muscle building, or healing, often involving high-protein foods and supplements.
What is a high-protein diet?