306 TH E CH I NA STU DYStates government is not only failing to put out our fires, it is actively
fanning the flames.DIETARY RANGES: THE LATEST ASSAULT
The Food and Nutrition Board (FNB), as part of the Institute of Medi-
cine (lOM) of the National Academy of Sciences, has the responsibility
every five years or so to review and update the recommended consump-
tion of individual nutrients. The FNB has been making nutrient recom-
mendations since 1943 when it established a plan for the u.s. Armed
Forces wherein it recommended daily allowances (RDAs) for each indi-
vidual nutrient.
In the most recent FNB report,^1 published in 2002 , nutrient rec-
ommendations are presented as ranges instead of single numbers, as
was the practice until 2002. For good health, we are now advised to
consume from 45% to 65% of our calories as carbohydrates. There are
ranges for fat and protein as well.
A few quotes from the news release announcing this massive 900+
page report say it all. Here is the first sentence in the news release^2 :
To meet the body's daily energy and nutritional needs while mini-
mizing risk for chronic disease, adults should get 45% to 65% of
their calories from carbohydrates, 20% to 35% from fat and 10% to
35% from protein ....Further, we find:
... added sugars should comprise no more than 25% of total calo-
ries consumed .... added sugars are those incorporated into foods
and beverages during production [and] major sources include
candy, soft drinks, fruit drinks, pastries and other sweets.^2Let's take a closer look. What are these recommendations really say-
ing? Remember, the news release starts off by stating the report's objec-
tive of "minimizing risk for chronic disease."2 This report says that we
can consume a diet containing up to 35% of calories as fat; this is up
from the 30% limit of previous reports. It also recommends that we can
consume up to 35% of calories as protein; this number is far higher than
the suggestion of any other responsible authority.
The last recommendation puts the frosting on the cake, so to speak.
We can consume up to 25% of calories as added sugars. Remember,
sugars are the most refined type of carbohydrates. In effect, although