The Proof with Simon Hill

The good and the bad of the new US dietary guidelines | Dr David Katz

48 snips
Feb 16, 2026
Dr David Katz, preventive medicine physician and public health expert, takes on the 2025 US dietary guidelines. He critiques political influence over science. He debates the push for more animal protein, contradictions around saturated fat and full-fat dairy, and confusions about seed oils. He returns to a simple refrain: real food, mostly plants, in balanced combinations.
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ANECDOTE

Guidelines Finally Call Out Frankenfood

  • Katz notes the guidelines explicitly say to avoid hyper-processed (ultra-processed) foods in favor of real food.
  • He points out this echoes past guidelines but calls the statement unsurprising rather than impressive.
INSIGHT

Bad Guidelines Can Still Improve Average Diets

  • Even flawed guidelines can be an incremental improvement over the typical American diet, given its high ultra-processed share.
  • Katz warns people will likely latch onto parts they prefer, like more meat and full-fat dairy, worsening outcomes.
ADVICE

Prioritize Plant Protein For Quality

  • Redefine protein quality by public-health outcomes rather than biochemical metrics.
  • Prioritize legumes, whole grains, and plant proteins because they improve health and add fiber for the microbiome.
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