Health
How much red meat is too much? Experts weigh in on food pyramid updates
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The release of an updated food pyramid this week has sparked mixed reactions from doctors and dietitians.
One of the most noteworthy shifts in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans — announced by HHS officials during a Jan. 7 press conference at the White House — is a greater emphasis on “high-quality proteins,” including red meat and eggs, as well as full-fat dairy.
The new guidelines focus on “real, whole, nutrient-dense foods,” and a dramatic reduction in highly processed foods, added sugars, refined carbohydrates and unhealthy fats.
HEALTH EXPERTS REACT AS ANDREW HUBERMAN BACKS TRUMP ADMIN’S NEW FOOD PYRAMID
“Protein and healthy fats are essential and were wrongly discouraged in prior dietary guidelines,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said during the press conference. “We are ending the war on saturated fats.”
Nick Norwitz, a Harvard- and Oxford-trained researcher known for his work in metabolic health, shared his reaction to the new guidelines.
The release of an updated food pyramid this week has sparked mixed reactions from doctors and dietitians. (realfood.gov)
Despite how the new pyramid is presented, he noted, the actual guidelines for saturated fat consumption haven’t changed, as they still state that, “in general, saturated fat consumption should not exceed 10% of total daily calories.”
The intake of unprocessed whole foods rich in saturated fat, especially dairy fat, tends to be associated with improved health outcomes, according to Norwitz.
RED MEAT CAN HELP YOUR MOOD IF PART OF A HEALTHY, BALANCED DIET, STUDY SUGGESTS
“Full-fat dairy — especially cheese, for example — tends to be associated with lower BMI, reduced rates of diabetes and even reduced dementia risk,” he told Fox News Digital. “There are, of course, nuances — but ‘ending the war’ on saturated fat seems reasonable.”
Risks vary, experts say
Experts cautioned about the potential health risks of exceeding the recommended intake of saturated fat, including higher rates of LDL “bad” cholesterol, which is known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
“The recommendation to limit saturated fat to 10% of total calories is based on the research showing that higher rates increase LDL cholesterol and associated risks for cardiovascular disease,” Sherry Coleman Collins, a food allergy dietitian and expert from the Atlanta metropolitan area, told Fox News Digital.
One of the most noteworthy shifts in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans is a greater emphasis on “high-quality proteins” — including red meat and eggs — as well as full-fat dairy. (iStock)
Nutrition should be personalized and is dependent on multiple factors, she said, including age, gender, activity level and genetic risk factors.
“The total saturated fat an individual might safely consume is influenced by their size and total calorie needs, as well as potentially genetic differences,” Coleman Collins said.
Norwitz agreed, adding that “the specific food source and interaction with the unique host and their broader dietary context should take the spotlight.”
Dr. Pooja Gidwani, a double board-certified doctor of internal medicine and obesity medicine in Los Angeles, pointed out that not everyone has the same “tolerance” for saturated fats.
“If increasing saturated fat leads to a meaningful rise in LDL cholesterol or ApoB (Apolipoprotein B, a protein found on the surface of certain cholesterol-carrying particles in the blood), that intake level is excessive for that individual, regardless of improvements in weight or glucose metrics,” she said.
TRUMP ADMIN’S NEW NUTRITION GUIDELINES TARGET ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS, EASE UP ON RED MEAT AND SATURATED FATS
“This personalized approach becomes increasingly important in midlife and beyond, when cardiovascular disease becomes the dominant driver of morbidity and mortality and when tolerance for cumulative atherogenic (artery-clogging) exposure is lower.”
For those who need to reduce LDL cholesterol or have a higher cardiovascular risk, the American Heart Association recommends an even lower amount of saturated fats — less than 6% of total daily calories.
Experts cautioned about the potential health risks of exceeding the recommended intake of saturated fat, including higher rates of LDL “bad” cholesterol. (iStock)
Gidwani also cautioned that diets emphasizing saturated fat could crowd out fiber and unsaturated fats, “both of which play independent roles in cholesterol clearance, insulin sensitivity, gut health and inflammation.”
“Saturated fat-heavy patterns are also calorie-dense, which can quietly undermine long-term weight management if intake is not carefully regulated,” she added.
Not all saturated fats are equal, experts say
The effects of saturated fat depend on what specific foods are being consumed, according to experts.
“I would recommend choosing minimally processed or unprocessed forms of foods,” said Tanya Freirich, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Charlotte, North Carolina. “For example, in place of a hot dog — which has additives, nitrites, sodium and fillers — consuming a chicken thigh would be a much better choice.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Gidwani reiterated that the amount of processing plays a big role.
“Processed meats are consistently associated with worse cardiometabolic outcomes and represent the clearest category to limit,” she said. “The risk here is not only saturated fat, but also sodium load, preservatives and the broader dietary pattern they tend to accompany.”
“Full-fat dairy — especially cheese, for example — tends to be associated with lower BMI, reduced rates of diabetes and even reduced dementia risk,” an expert told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
Unprocessed red meat, the doctor said, can fit into an overall healthy diet in smaller amounts, particularly when consumed alongside fiber-rich plants and minimally processed foods.
“However, from a longevity perspective, it should be viewed as optional rather than foundational, especially for individuals with elevated cardiovascular risk,” she added.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
When it comes to dairy, Gidwani noted that fermented options are “metabolically more favorable” than butter or cream.
“However, saturated fat from dairy is still not necessary to prioritize for metabolic health or longevity,” she said. “Excessive reliance on dairy fat can displace healthier fat sources without offering clear long-term benefit.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Overall, the doctor recommends unsaturated fat sources, including extra virgin olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocado and omega-3-rich fish, as primary dietary fats.
“These consistently support lipid profiles, insulin sensitivity and vascular health,” Gidwani said. “Saturated fat can exist within a balanced diet, but it should remain secondary rather than emphasized.”
Why the big picture matters
Saturated fat is just one piece of a much wider nutrition puzzle, the experts agreed.
Unprocessed red meat can fit into an overall healthy diet in smaller amounts, particularly when consumed alongside fiber-rich plants and minimally processed foods, one expert said. (iStock)
“Our heart health is not determined by one type of fat or one type of cholesterol, but the sum of many parts — our entire diet, our exercise habits, our stress and so much more,” Freirich said.
She recommends consulting a registered dietitian for guidance on unique dietary needs based on age, gender, activity level and medical history.
“Our heart health is not determined by one type of fat or one type of cholesterol, but the sum of many parts — our entire diet, our exercise habits, our stress and so much more,” said an expert. (iStock)
New Jersey-based dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade, author of “2-Day Diabetes Diet,” added that the message should be to focus more on overall patterns.
That means “plenty of fiber-rich plants, lean protein at every meal (including those that also contain fiber, such as nuts and seeds) and a reduction in overall intake of added sugars.”
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“That change will drive true health improvements,” she said.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Jill Smokler, founder of Scary Mommy, has died at age 48 after a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
The popular “mommy blogger” had been fighting the disease for the past two years, according to an announcement posted on ScaryMommy.com on Monday.
The stay-at-home mother of three launched the blog in 2008 as a place to share the “joys and pitfalls” of parenting, according to the article.
As Scary Mommy expanded from a personal blog into a major parenting brand, Smokler built a following with her honest, often self-deprecating take on motherhood. She went on to speak at blogging conferences, author bestselling books, appear on national television programs and earn three Webby Awards, her biography states.
AGGRESSIVE BRAIN CANCER MAY RESPOND TO HIGH-DOSE VITAMIN THERAPY, STUDY SUGGESTS
“Jill spent her life telling the truth about motherhood — that it could be wonderful and impossible in the very same breath — and in doing so, she gave millions of women permission to stop pretending and feel a little less alone,” her family shared in a statement following her passing.
Jill Smokler, founder of Scary Mommy (pictured in 2018), has died at age 48 after a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun/ZUMA Press Wire / Shutterstock)
“She was funny, fearless, generous and entirely herself. More than anything she built, Jill was proudest of her three children, Lily, Ben and Evan. We are heartbroken to lose her, and endlessly proud of the mark she left on the world.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Smokler’s first sign of the disease was in April 2024, when she experienced a sudden seizure. She then underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor, after which she didn’t recognize her own children, she previously shared with Today.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“I am definitely grateful that I don’t remember the looks on their faces when I didn’t recognize them,” she said. “That must have been gutting.”
Smokler was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults and one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer. There is currently no cure.
About 13.9% of all brain tumors are glioblastomas, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. (iStock)
Following surgery, the blogger underwent radiation and chemotherapy, during which she was open about her treatment side effects, including fatigue and hair loss. Additional surgeries and clinical trials followed, according to previous interviews.
“Thank you, Jill, for everything. May you rest in peace,” the Scary Mommy post concluded.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
About 13.9% of all brain tumors are glioblastomas, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. More than 12,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Median survival is approximately 12 to 18 months after diagnosis, even with treatment. Only about 5% to 7% of patients survive five years after diagnosis, data shows.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Common food preservatives may contribute to higher risks of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, according to a large French study.
Researchers analyzed data from 112,395 adults averaging 42 years of age, assessing their detailed dietary intake with an average follow-up of nearly eight years.
Among the participants, 5,544 developed hypertension during the follow-up period, and 2,450 experienced cardiovascular disease events.
‘ADDICTIVE’ ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS LINKED TO SPIKE IN CHRONIC DISEASE, RESEARCHERS WARN
Higher consumption of total non-antioxidant preservatives was associated with a 29% greater risk of hypertension and a 16% higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
Higher consumption of total antioxidant preservatives was linked to a 22% spike in hypertension risk.
Common food preservatives may contribute to higher risks of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, according to a large French study. (iStock)
Out of the 17 preservative additives consumed by at least 10% of participants, eight in particular were associated with higher rates of hypertension, including the following.
- Potassium sorbate
- Sorbic acid
- Sodium nitrite
- Potassium nitrite
- Sodium metabisulphite
- Potassium metabisulphite
- Citric acid
- Tripotassium citrate
HEART SURGEON REVEALS WHAT TO EAT (AND NOT EAT) FOR OPTIMAL CARDIAC HEALTH
Only one of the preservatives – ascorbic acid, which is the food additive form of vitamin C – was significantly associated with higher cardiovascular disease risk.
The finding does not mean that dietary vitamin C itself causes cardiovascular disease, the researchers noted. The study examined ascorbic acid in the form used as a food additive in processed foods, not vitamin C from fruits, vegetables or supplements.
Out of the 17 preservative additives consumed by at least 10% of participants, eight in particular were associated with higher rates of hypertension. (iStock)
The findings were published in the European Heart Journal.
“This is a very important study that puts together what we already know – that preservatives of all kinds raise blood pressure and contribute directly to heart disease and stroke over eight years,” Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, told Fox News Digital.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“Whereas potassium itself can lower blood pressure, the additive potassium sorbate has previously been found to be associated with hypertension in a large study in the European Heart Journal,” the doctor, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “Potassium metabisulphite was also found to raise pressure in the same study.”
The same was found for sodium nitrite in the new study, Siegel noted, with 73% of participants consuming it regularly – “mostly in processed foods like hot dogs, ham, bacon and deli meats.”
“Preservatives of all kinds raise blood pressure and contribute directly to heart disease and stroke over eight years,” a doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
“This has been found in previous research for many years,” he added.
Siegel also discussed the 22% increased risk linked to ascorbic acid. “I am dubious about this association, as it has not generally been found before, but perhaps the risk is when it is used as a chemical preservative.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“For all the sodium additives, this is expected, but surprising with extracts of rosemary and citric acid – the key to both of these ingredients is when they are used as preservatives (chemicals),” he added.
Potential limitations
As this was an observational study, it could not prove that the additives caused the health conditions.
Also, the participants who volunteered for the study were generally healthier, more educated and more often female than the general French population, the researchers noted.
As this was an observational study, it could not prove that the additives caused the health conditions. (FG Trade / Getty Images)
There was also the chance that hypertension was underdiagnosed in some participants.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
While the researchers estimated people’s dietary intake as accurately as possible, there was a chance that some consumption was inaccurately reported.
The authors emphasized that these findings need to be confirmed in further research of other populations.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
If the results are replicated in future research, some food preservatives may face additional safety reviews focused on their effects on the cardiovascular system, the researchers suggested.
“The take-home is to use natural ingredients as much as possible, and especially beware of sodium chemical preservatives when it comes to risk of heart disease and stroke from associated hypertension,” Siegel concluded.
JD Vance reveals his favorite dad joke
Dana Perino, Greg Gutfeld, Jesse Watters, and Jessica Tarlov engage in a lighthearted exchange of classic dad jokes on Fox News’ ‘The Five’. The discussion is sparked by recent research highlighted in The Washington Post, which indicates that humor, even ‘cringeworthy’ dad jokes, plays a surprisingly important role in parenting and can help strengthen the bond between fathers and children. The panel illustrates this point with their own memorable one-liners.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
“My neighbor tiled my roof for free. He said it was on the house.”
While that dad joke might elicit a heavy sigh from family members, experts say a silly pun can alter internal body chemistry and lower stress, potentially providing real health benefits.
Dad jokes are uniquely distinguished by their structure, content and comedic devices, according to a study published on PsyArXiv, an open-access preprint repository for psychology research.
TRENDY ‘CORTISOL COCKTAIL’ COULD MELT STRESS AND POUNDS AWAY, INFLUENCERS CLAIM
In analyzing thousands of examples, psychologists Paul J. Silvia (University of North Carolina at Greensboro) and Meriel I. Burnett (University of Massachusetts Amherst) found that dad humor is firmly rooted in puns and wordplay.
While more advanced comedy requires context, a joke about a neighbor’s roof may only require someone to understand the dual meaning of a single phrase.
Experts claim a pun can change body chemistry and lower stress. (iStock)
This predictable structure makes dad jokes broadly accessible, creating opportunities for shared humor across generations, the researchers said.
Laughter alters internal chemistry by decreasing stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine, while simultaneously increasing happiness chemicals like dopamine, serotonin and endorphins.
GRANDPARENTS WHO BABYSIT THEIR GRANDCHILDREN STAY MENTALLY SHARPER, NEW STUDY REVEALS
A 2023 review in PLOS One found that a single laughter session could slash cortisol levels by more than 36%. This drop in stress lights up regions like the prefrontal cortex, helping the brain to process complex ideas.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Studies have linked pun comprehension to verbal ability, creative thinking and the ability to make connections between different meanings.
Sharing a good laugh can boost oxytocin, a hormone known to deepen emotional bonds between parents and children. (iStock)
“When we see children laugh, we witness the brilliance of the brain in action: learning, connecting and growing,” Jacqueline Harding, PhD, an early childhood expert at Middlesex University in London, told Fox News Digital.
In her book, “The Brain That Loves to Laugh,” Harding states that joy is a complex biological phenomenon that helps children navigate stress and build more resilient, receptive minds.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“Hope and humor, it seems, are not just the seasoning of life, but foundational to a recipe for healthy development.”
The physical benefit extends directly to the family unit. Sharing a good laugh can boost oxytocin, a hormone known to deepen emotional bonds between parents and children. It also promotes what psychologists call co-regulation, experts say.
Sharing a good laugh can boost oxytocin, a hormone known to deepen emotional bonds between parents and children. (iStock)
This process allows individuals to manage their own stress by drawing on a shared biological store of positive, safe experiences.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“Spontaneous, joyful play is an antidote to stress, as it increases levels of endorphins released by the brain,” Harding said.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“Creative, happy play does its most brilliant work at a molecular level, especially at a time when the human brain is at its most receptive.”
-
Florida4 minutes agoElevate Florida program: Lawmakers, homeowners demand action on home elevation grants
-
Georgia11 minutes agoWhere might Georgia baseball star Daniel Jackson land in MLB draft?
-
Hawaii19 minutes agoPH Consulate welcomes PH contingent to Hawaii for RIMPAC 2026
-
Idaho26 minutes agoISU event turns summer fun into rocket science – East Idaho News
-
Illinois29 minutes ago5 tornadoes confirmed in central Illinois following weekend storms
-
Indiana34 minutes agoTop Indiana high school performers at U20 Championships, Nike Outdoor Nationals
-
Iowa41 minutes agoIowa Football Depth Chart: Projecting Hawkeyes’ Week 1 Special Teams
-
Kansas44 minutes ago
Kansas Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for June 22, 2026
