US diet guidelines urge people to eat less sugar

Added sugars in foods should make up less than 10 percent of daily calories, said US government dietary guidelines issued Thursday that for the first time urged specific limits on sweets.

Saturated fats should also make up less than 10 percent of a day's food intake, said the guidelines which are released every five years by the US Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Some consumer groups hailed the guidelines as an important step forward in a nation where more than one-third of adults -- or nearly 79 million people -- are obese.

The guidelines come on the heels of an advisory committee's recommendations in February last year, urging less red meat consumption, but were also less concerned with cholesterol intake than in years past.

The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines no longer contain advice to limit cholesterol from eggs in its "Key Recommendations," which now urge people to consume "as little dietary cholesterol as possible while consuming a healthy eating pattern."

Eating less red meat is linked to a lower risk of heart disease and stroke, as well as a lower risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer, the guidelines say.

They also recommend a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a diet based on vegetables and whole grains.

"The advice presented in the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans is sound, sensible, and science-based," said Michael Jacobson, president of the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest.