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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Health
- Business Standard
US set to drop daily alcohol limit from dietary guidelines: Report
The updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which could be released as early as this month, are expected to include a brief statement encouraging Americans to drink in moderation Reuters US Dietary Guidelines are expected to eliminate the long-standing recommendation that adults limit alcohol consumption to one or two drinks per day, according to three sources familiar with the matter, in what could be a major win for an industry threatened by heightened scrutiny of alcohol's health effects. The updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which could be released as early as this month, are expected to include a brief statement encouraging Americans to drink in moderation or limit alcohol intake due to associated health risks, the sources said. The guidelines are still under development and subject to change, two of the sources and a fourth individual familiar with the process said. Currently, the recommendations advise limiting drinking to one serving or less per day for women and two or less for men, widely seen as a moderate level. Similar guidelines exist in countries such as the United Kingdom, which advises limiting drinking to 14 units per week, while Canada, however, has adopted a more cautious stance, warning that health risks begin to increase after just two drinks per week. Even moderate drinking is linked to some health risks, such as higher risk of breast cancer, though some studies have also found an association with possible health benefits, such as a lower risk of stroke. The fourth source said that the scientific basis for recommending specific daily limits is limited, and the goal is to ensure the guidelines reflect only the most robust evidence. The new guidelines, developed by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the US Department of Agriculture, are closely watched internationally and influence policies ranging from school lunch programs to medical advice. Neither department responded to requests for comment. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known teetotaler, has remained largely silent on alcohol but has emphasised a focus on whole foods in the upcoming guidelines. Some alcohol executives had feared a move towards tighter recommendations on alcohol intake as authorities like the World Health Organization upped their warnings about alcohol's health risks. Former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said alcohol consumption increases the risk of at least seven types of cancer and called for warning labels on alcoholic drinks. Major industry players, including Diageo and Anheuser-Busch InBev, have lobbied lawmakers throughout the review process. Senate records show the companies spent millions on lobbying efforts related to the guidelines and a range of other issues such as tax and trade in 2024 and 2025. Both companies declined to comment. Shares in alcohol companies rose shortly after the announcement, with both AB InBev and Diageo's shares hitting an intraday high. The new guidelines are set to move away from suggesting consumers limit alcohol consumption to a specific number of daily servings, according to the three sources, who asked not to be named in order to speak freely. One person said the new alcohol-related recommendation will probably be limited to a sentence or two. Another said the existing numbers tied to moderate drinking could still appear in a longer appendix. While industry representatives have lobbied lawmakers on the guidelines or how they should be decided, some officials and researchers advocated for tighter restrictions. Reports intended to inform the guidelines have meanwhile drawn different conclusions about alcohol's health effects and the science around this. 'UNHELPFUL' Science Over Bias, a group representing US growers, producers, distributors and retailers of beer wine and spirits, said the industry has consistently maintained that the guidelines should be determined by sound scientific evidence and free from bias or conflicts of interest. "Information on responsible alcohol consumption has been part of the Dietary Guidelines for decades and has provided useful guidance for consumers who choose to consume alcohol and their health care providers," the group said. The guidelines, which are reviewed every five years, have advised drinking in moderation and defined that as no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two for men since 1990. Eva Greenthal, a senior policy scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a non-profit focused on nutrition, health and food safety, said the more general language expected in the guidelines was "so vague as to be unhelpful". Under such a change, the message that even moderate drinking can increase risks, especially for breast cancer, would get lost, she continued. Two studies were produced to inform the development of the guidelines. The first found that moderate drinking was associated with increased risk of some cancers, but a decreased risk of dying from any cause and some cardiovascular problems like stroke. The evidence for some other health impacts was insufficient to draw conclusions, it found. The other report conversely found the risk of dying from alcohol use, including increased risk for seven cancers, begins at any or low levels of alcohol use and increases with higher consumption.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
US to drop guidance to limit alcohol to one or two drinks per day, sources say
The updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans are expected to include a brief statement encouraging Americans to drink in moderation. PHOTO: REUTERS US to drop guidance to limit alcohol to one or two drinks per day, sources say WASHINGTON - US dietary guidelines are expected to eliminate the long-standing recommendation that adults limit alcohol consumption to one or two drinks per day, according to three sources familiar with the matter, in what could be a major win for an industry threatened by heightened scrutiny of alcohol's health effects. The updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which could be released as early as June, are expected to include a brief statement encouraging Americans to drink in moderation or limit alcohol intake due to associated health risks, the sources said. The guidelines are still under development and subject to change, two of the sources and a fourth individual familiar with the process said. Currently, the recommendations advise limiting drinking to one serving or less per day for women and two or less for men, widely seen as a moderate level. Similar guidelines exist in countries such as the United Kingdom, which advises limiting drinking to 14 units per week, while Canada, however, has adopted a more cautious stance, warning that health risks begin to increase after just two drinks per week. Even moderate drinking is linked to some health risks, such as higher risk of breast cancer, though some studies have also found an association with possible health benefits, such as a lower risk of stroke. The fourth source said that the scientific basis for recommending specific daily limits is limited, and the goal is to ensure the guidelines reflect only the most robust evidence. The new guidelines, developed by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the US Department of Agriculture, are closely watched internationally and influence policies ranging from school lunch programmes to medical advice. Neither department responded to requests for comment. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, a known teetotaler, has remained largely silent on alcohol but has emphasised a focus on whole foods in the upcoming guidelines. Some alcohol executives had feared a move towards tighter recommendations on alcohol intake as authorities like the World Health Organisation upped their warnings about alcohol's health risks. Former US Surgeon-General Vivek Murthy said alcohol consumption increases the risk of at least seven types of cancer and called for warning labels on alcoholic drinks. Major industry players, including Diageo and Anheuser-Busch InBev, have lobbied lawmakers throughout the review process. Senate records show each company spent millions on lobbying efforts related to the guidelines and a range of other issues such as tax and trade in 2024 and 2025. Both companies declined to comment. The new guidelines are set to move away from suggesting consumers limit alcohol consumption to a specific number of daily servings, according to the three sources, who asked not to be named in order to speak freely. One person said the new alcohol-related recommendation will probably be limited to a sentence or two. Another said the existing numbers tied to moderate drinking could still appear in a longer appendix. While industry representatives have lobbied lawmakers on the guidelines or how they should be decided, some officials and researchers advocated for tighter restrictions. Reports intended to inform the guidelines have meanwhile drawn different conclusions about alcohol's health effects and the science around this. 'Unhelpful' The guidelines, which are reviewed every five years, have advised drinking in moderation and defined that as no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two for men since 1990. Dr Eva Greenthal, a senior policy scientist at the Centre for Science in the Public Interest, a non-profit focused on nutrition, health and food safety, said the more general language expected in the guidelines was "so vague as to be unhelpful". Under such a change, the message that even moderate drinking can increase risks, especially for breast cancer, would get lost, she continued. Two studies were produced to inform the development of the guidelines. The first found that moderate drinking was associated with increased risk of some cancers, but a decreased risk of dying from any cause and some cardiovascular problems like stroke. The evidence for some other health impacts was insufficient to draw conclusions, it found. The other report conversely found the risk of dying from alcohol use, including increased risk for seven cancers, begins at any or low levels of alcohol use and increases with higher consumption. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Scientists Reveal Healthiest Way of Drinking Coffee
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Good news for coffee purists—taking your joe black is associated with a reduced risk of death from all causes. This is the conclusion of a new study out of Tufts University, which found that this apparent benefit of coffee vanishes as cream, milk and sugar are added. "Coffee is among the most-consumed beverages in the world," said paper author and epidemiologist Fang Fang Zhang in a statement. "With nearly half of American adults reporting drinking at least one cup per day, it is important for us to know what it might mean for health." "The health benefits of coffee might be attributable to its bioactive compounds, but our results suggest that the addition of sugar and saturated fat may reduce the mortality benefits." Cups of coffee on a table. Cups of coffee on a table. Getty Images In their study, Zhang and colleagues analyzed health and diet data on a nationally-representative sample of 46,000 adults collected between 1999 and 2018. They linked this dataset to mortality data from the National Death Index to explore how different ways of taking one's coffee might affect one's risk of an early death. Specifically, the team categorized coffee consumption based on whether the drink was caffeinated or decaffeinated; taken with or without various forms of sugar; and whether it was drunk with or without milk, cream or half-and-half. The researchers also looked at how much sugar or saturated fats, respectively, were added to the subjects' coffee—with low added sugar (whether as granulated sugar, honey or syrup) and saturated fats being each classified as under 5 percent of the Daily Value. So, for example, this would be less than half a teaspoon of sugar and either give tablespoons of 2 percent milk or one tablespoon of either cream or half-and-half. The analyses indicated that consumption of at least one cup of caffeinated coffee per day was associated with a 16 percent lower risk of all-cause mortality—a figure that rose to 17 percent when 2–3 cups were consumed daily. Drinking more beyond this was not linked to further increases—in fact, drinking more than three cups a day appeared to weaken the benefit as concerned death from cardiovascular disease in particular. Moreover, the team found that the apparent health benefits of coffee were diminished when things were added to coffee. All-in-all, drinking black coffee and coffee with low levels of added sugar and saturated fat was associated with a 14 percent reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality, as compared to those people who didn't drink coffee. But that same link was not observed for coffee with high amounts of either added sugar or saturated fat. Paper author and nutrition epidemiologist Bingjie Zhou added: "Our results align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which recommend limiting added sugar and saturated fat." Although the findings are likely to delight regular coffee drinkers, the study has some limitations—including how the data was based on people self-reporting how much coffee they drank, as well as how they took it. The team also noted that they did not find an association between the drinking of decaffeinated coffee and the risk of an early death—but cautioned that such might just be an artefact of how few of the subjects drank decaf. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about coffee? Let us know via science@ Reference Zhou, B., Ruan, M., Pan, Y., Wang, L., & Zhang, F. F. (2025). Coffee Consumption and Mortality among United States Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study. The Journal of Nutrition.
Business Insider
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Kelly Ripa says she ate like her husband for 3 days to help fit into her Oscars dress
It turns out that all Kelly Ripa needed to do to fit into her Oscars dress was eat like Mark Consuelos for three days. On Monday's episode of " Live with Kelly and Mark," Ripa spoke about how she struggled to fit into her gown for the Academy Awards "So right before the Academy Awards, I was having trouble getting my dress zipped up the side. It was a side-zip dress, and I kept getting zipped into the dress," Ripa said. "I don't know if any women have experienced having your side skin sipped into your dress. It is a punishing thing." To help Ripa get red carpet-ready, Consuelos suggested she follow his high-protein diet. "It's the only time I've listened to Mark about my diet because I typically don't like to do what you're doing," Ripa said. "I just find, you're like, way too disciplined. I can't live that way." But she didn't mind giving it a shot if it's just "for 72 hours," Ripa said, adding that some of the foods she ate included steak, yoghurt, and vegetables. "I didn't love it, because I'm not big on animal protein. I don't love it, but I ate exactly how you told me to eat, and that dress zipped right up, no side skin," Ripa said. "And I looked super fit. Super, super fit. So thank you for that." Consuelos added that increasing protein should go hand-in-hand with meeting daily fiber needs. "It's crucial for maintaining a healthy gut microbiome and may lower the rates of chronic disease such as diabetes," Consuelos said. Protein helps build lean muscle mass, boosts immunity, and is good for weight loss. The latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans, published by the United States Department of Agriculture, recommend 14 grams of dietary fiber for every 1,000 calories consumed. This amounts to 22 to 28 grams daily for adult women and 28 to 34 grams daily for adult men, depending on their age range. Dietitians previously told Business Insider that salmon, shrimp, and black beans are high-protein foods that can be beneficial to include in a weight-loss diet. Eating a lot of protein isn't usually harmful, but it can mean you're not getting enough of other important nutrients. "Most athletes that I talk to are eating too much protein because they think eating more protein means building more muscle," sports dietitian Nancy Clark told BI. "It's actually the carbs that fuel muscle. All the protein they're eating displaces the carbs that are needed to fuel the muscles."
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Why Cutting Carbs Usually Backfires—and What to Do Instead
Carbohydrates can be part of a nourishing and balanced eating pattern. Strategically choosing carbs that are higher in fiber and nutrients and lower in added sugar. Other habits like staying hydrated and being consistent can help support your nutrient needs more than totally avoiding any food group. Carbohydrates, or carbs, have gotten a bad reputation over the years, often demonized in popular diet trends and wellness influencers. However, the truth about carbohydrates is far more nuanced than what you'll see on social media or hear from the latest fad diet gurus. Cutting carbs drastically may offer temporary results, but for many people, this approach isn't sustainable. Plus, cutting carbs may result in nutritional gaps or other undesirable outcomes. Can a low-carb diet be beneficial for certain people? Absolutely. But it's not for everyone. Instead of seeing carbs as the enemy, it's time to take a more balanced approach that fosters a positive relationship with food and keeps your body functioning at its best. Carbs are one of the primary macronutrients, alongside fats and proteins. They serve as a major energy source for the body, particularly for the brain and muscles. Carbs are often broken down into glucose, which fuels everything from your daily activities to intense workouts. Complex carbs, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, also come packed with essential vitamins, fiber and other nutrients that your body needs to thrive. Restricting carbs, or completely cutting out certain nutrient-dense carbs, means you could miss out on key nutrients and energy your body needs to function properly. Restricting carbs might seem appealing at first, especially given that low-carb diets like keto or Atkins are often touted for their rapid results. But here's the catch! What works in the short term may fail when it comes to long-term wellness. Here's why. 'Many carb-rich foods like starchy vegetables, whole grains, fruits and legumes are also extremely nutrient dense,' shared McKenzie Caldwell, M.P.H., RDN. 'Cutting carbs can result in inadequate intake of important nutrients and food compounds including folate, antioxidants and fiber,' McKenzie added. A 2025 study shows that low-carb diets are linked to deficiencies of micronutrients like vitamin C, iron and magnesium, which may result in negative implications in the long run. Another study published in 2022 looked at the eating habits of 307 U.S. adults who followed a low-carbohydrate diet and compared what these individuals are to the daily nutritional goals outlined in the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The study found that people on low-carb diets were consuming too much saturated fat, total fats, and sodium. At the same time, they weren't getting enough fiber, magnesium, potassium and several important vitamins like A, E, D and, in some cases, C and folate. 'One reason why cutting carbs can backfire is because it often leads to low energy,' shared Samantha DeVito, M.S., RD. 'Carbohydrates are your body's preferred fuel source, especially for your brain and muscles, so when you drastically reduce your intake, you might feel sluggish, irritable or find it harder to concentrate,' DeVito explained. Simple carbohydrates, often found in high-added-sugar foods, can lead to energy crashes and have been linked to poorer brain health and reduced cognitive performance over time. On the other hand, complex carbohydrates, like those found in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, provide a steady, long-lasting source of energy and have been associated with improved memory and better brain health as we age. One of the biggest reasons cutting carbs backfires is the sheer difficulty of maintaining such a restrictive diet. Eventually, most people revert to their previous eating patterns, often feeling like they've 'failed.' This cycle of deprivation and overindulgence can harm not just your physical health but also your mental well-being. 'Cutting carbs completely can seem effective at first, but it often leads to burnout; not because people lack discipline, but because it's logistically and socially unrealistic,' explained Johannah Katz, M.A., RD. 'Carbs are part of most meals, cultures and shared experiences. When they're demonized or off-limits, it can create an 'all-or-nothing' mindset, which makes people feel like they've failed if they have even a small amount,' she explained. Cultural, religious and economic barriers pose unique challenges to achieving nutritional compliance with low carbohydrate diets. 'Rigidity fuels guilt, yo-yo dieting, and ultimately, a strained relationship with food. Sustainable progress comes from flexibility and learning how to include the right kinds of carbs (understanding complex vs simple carbohydrates), not avoid them altogether,' Katz explained. 'By cutting carbs, you could be compromising on your gut health,' explained Amanda Sauceda, M.S., RD. 'Fiber, which is critical for a healthy gut, is a type of carbohydrate. 90% of people are already not meeting their fiber recommendations so by cutting carbs you could also be making it harder to reach your fiber goals,' she explained. 'If you were to cut carbs then you might notice an increase in constipation and it could result in gut microbiome changes,' Sauceda added. When choosing your carbs, it's important to choose the right ones. Eating high-quality carbohydrates like whole grains, fruits and vegetables is linked to a 33.7% lower risk of constipation. On the flip side, consuming less nutritious carbs like high-added-sugar snacks and refined grains increased constipation risk by 83.4% in an analysis. If cutting carbs isn't the answer, what's the alternative? The good news is that you don't have to totally avoid carbohydrates to feel your best. Instead, focus on incorporating a balanced, sustainable approach to eating that works for you personally. Choose Quality Over Quantity: Not all carbs are created equal. Refined carbs, like white bread and high-added-sugar drinks, are stripped of certain nutrients and may cause blood sugar spikes. On the other hand, complex carbs, like whole grains, sweet potatoes and brown rice, are a natural source of fiber, vitamins and minerals. Focus on adding these nutrient-dense options to your meals rather than avoiding carbs altogether. Keep Your Meals Balanced: Instead of fixating on cutting out a particular food group, aim to create balanced meals that include protein, healthy fats and carbohydrates. For instance, pair whole-grain pasta with lean protein like chicken or plant-based options, plus some olive oil and a handful of veggies. This approach ensures you're fueling your body with what it truly needs without feeling deprived. Prioritize Consistency Over Perfection: Rather than aiming to eat 'perfectly,' focus on consistent habits that support your overall well-being. That might mean having oatmeal for breakfast most days while occasionally enjoying a donut when the mood strikes. Balance is key. There's no need to label foods as 'good' or 'bad'. Stay Active and Hydrated: Physical activity and hydration are essential compliments to your nutrition. Exercise helps regulate blood sugar and supports gut health, while drinking enough water can help keep gut health in-check too. Carbohydrates are not the villain they've been made out to be. Your body needs them to function properly and to feel its best. Cutting carbs may offer short-term results, but it often leads to long-term frustration, fatigue and health challenges. By focusing on balance, variety, and listening to your body, you can create a way of eating that nourishes and sustains you over the long haul. Remember, eating is not about perfection; it's about supporting your life in a way that feels good and works for you. The right carbs included! Read the original article on EATINGWELL
