Life Kit: Health How to interpret the new dietary guidelines
Jan 26, 2026
Allison Aubrey, an NPR health correspondent who covers nutrition and policy, unpacks the controversial new federal dietary guidelines. She walks through the revamped food pyramid, talks saturated fat and LDL risk, and why the pyramid clashes with long-standing science. She also covers protein choices, cutting refined carbs, and changes to alcohol guidance.
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Pyramid Image Clashes With Written Rules
- The new food pyramid visually emphasizes steak, whole poultry, and cheese at the top as priorities.
- Yet the written guidelines still recommend limiting saturated fat to no more than 10% of daily calories.
Why Saturated Fat Raises Health Concerns
- Saturated fats, common in butter, cheese, and red meat, can raise LDL cholesterol and increase heart attack and stroke risk.
- Not everyone is equally affected, but high LDL is a well-established cardiovascular risk factor.
Experts Kept Saturated Fat Limits Intact
- The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee reviewed the evidence and recommended keeping saturated fat limits.
- The administration ultimately left those limits in place despite rhetorical shifts.