Contact: Beth Casteel, bcasteel@acc.org, 202-375-6275

WASHINGTON (Jan 07, 2016) -

A statement from American College of Cardiology President Kim Allan Williams, M.D., FACC, in response to the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans issued by HHS and the USDA:

"The 2015 Dietary Guidelines issued this morning emphasize that people do not need to obtain cholesterol through diet and should eat as little as possible. Cautions about cholesterol intake are addressed in the text of the report, including a clear statement that people do not need to obtain cholesterol through food and should limit their intake of cholesterol and saturated fat as much as possible through healthy eating patterns.

"With confusing and often conflicting information in the media and promoted by specific interests, it is more important than ever that Americans have a source of clear science-based information about diet. The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans makes a clear step forward in providing Americans with science-based guidelines.

"Americans can meet these recommendations by following simple advice: eat more unprocessed foods, especially fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and when removing unwanted sugar and fat from your diet, replace those foods with plant-based foods, including whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

"We hope Americans will pay attention to this guidance, including limits on sugar intake, and incorporate it into their diets by focusing on consuming unprocessed foods, including fruits, vegetables and grains, and also replacing foods with cholesterol and saturated fats with foods with healthier monounsaturated fats like olive oil and nuts.

"Obesity rates and related health problems have risen dramatically in recent decades. Very recently there have been indications from the CDC that the growth in obesity is leveling off, but there is still a lot of work to be done to help Americans return to healthier body weight to reduce heart disease and other related health issues. Following the recommendations in the 2015 Guidelines to lower intake of cholesterol, fat and sugar, will help improve the health of the American population."

The American College of Cardiology is a 49,000-member medical society that is the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team. The mission of the College is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College operates national registries to measure and improve care, provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research and bestows credentials upon cardiovascular specialists who meet stringent qualifications. For more information, visit acc.org.

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