“We intentionally say ‘shift’ to more plant-based sources of protein, because we know that plant-based sources are, generally speaking, healthier,” says Dr. Amit Khera, professor of medicine and director of preventive cardiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center and vice chair of the committee responsible for the report.
That advice clashes with the federal dietary guidelines, which highlight the benefits of red meat and “prioritizes” eating more protein, including from animal sources. And while the federal guidance recommends limiting consumption of saturated fats to 10% of daily calories—a longstanding benchmark echoed by the heart group’s new advice—U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that “we are ending the war on saturated fats” when announcing the guidelines. There is common ground, however: The federal dietary guidelines emphasize eating healthy fats from “whole food sources,” and while they mention meat, they also endorse fish, nuts, seeds, and avocados.
