Confused by the new dietary guidelines? Focus on these simple, evidence-based shifts to lower your chronic disease risk

Red meat and dairy may be grabbing the headlines, but processed foods and sugary drinks remain the real drivers of chronic disease.

By: Michael I Goran, University of Southern California, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: February 3, 2026

Words: 1,509

Last Updated: 2 weeks ago

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By Michael I Goran, University of Southern California

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans aim to translate the most up-to-date nutrition science into practical advice for the public as well as to guide federal policy for programs such as school lunches.

But the newest version of the guidelines, released on Jan. 7, 2026, seems to be spurring more confusion than clarity about what people should be eating.

I’ve been studying nutrition and chronic …

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