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New Recommendations for Infants and Toddlers
The USDA has recently published their ninth edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The DGA is a tool that can be used by providers, parents, young-adults, and seniors to get evidence-based nutrition information. It can also be used to get the latest recommendations on how to eat to improve long-term health and overall quality of life. The DGA is also updated once every 5 years and is written and reviewed by a committee of 20 health professionals. Over the course of the next 5 years, the committee members will review all current and soon-to-be released studies and reports to help improve the 2030 edition which will be released in 2026.
Some of the biggest takeaways from the latest DGA is the additional section for maternal health and infant/toddler health. Current evidence shows that the age of 0-24 months is a critical time for brain development and overall lifelong health. It is also a critical time to introduce the common allergen foods. Prior to the new DGA, there was mixed evidence showing that there could be some connection between common allergen foods consumption during pregnancy (such as peanuts and treenuts) to prevent the development of allergies in the fetus later on in life. As of right now though, there is no clear evidence that allows for a clear conclusion on this. There is evidence though that shows introduction of allergen foods as early as four months of age can help prevent allergies later on in life.
On top of new allergy recommendations, there are also recommendations on added sugars. To prevent health conditions later in life such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease; added sugars should not be consumed until at least 24 months of age. This new recommendation is in efforts to address some of the major chronic health conditions that are developing in the youth of America.
Overall, the DGA is a great tool to learn about evidence-based nutrition and get dietary recommendations for free. This is a tool that is always going to be free and is one that is rigorously tested and reviewed so it is one that can be trusted. To read more about the 2025 DGA, click here!
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