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The new dietary guidelines for Americans was received with lukewarm reactions from the health experts in Detroit. The guidelines were officially released on Thursday by the U.S. health and human services and the United States Agricultural departments. These recommendations have hardly changed in the last 35 years. As per the latest standards, the added sugar must be reduced to 10% of calories, 300 milligram limit on cholesterol has been lifted, and reduced intake of red meat especially by young boys and men is recommended. Tom Rifai, clinical assistant professor at Waynse State University Medical School, believes that these guidelines "should have given specific recommendations of specific foods." A better way to approach cutting back on sugar, he says, is to "make it clear that the biggest source of added sugar come from sugary beverages or particularly non-diet soft drinks," Rifai said, reported Detroit Free Press

On the other hand, however, Rifai says that the guidelines did a fine job in identifying the meaning of low fat dairy, "1% or 1/2 % or skim milk and not talking about 2% milk," he said. "They made it clear it's not cheese. People see dairy and they see cheese, but dig deeper (into the report), they are saying cheese isn't the best dairy source." However, he says that they should have been more clear about cutting back the red meat consumption. "They should have put 95% lean, which is not the common beef of America, put a number right on it that people should use. It's so ambiguous to say lean meat," says Detroit Free Press

These guidelines that come once in five years are designed to prevent chronic diseases and promote healthy living. "The changes are more of an emphasis on adopting a healthy eating pattern and making healthy choices and less of a focus on certain nutrients," said Bethany Thayer, director for the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at Henry Ford Health System, reports Examiner