New food guidelines include coffee
A healthy eating pattern includes fruits, vegetables, dairy, whole grains, protein and oils and limits intake of saturated fats and sodium. There's also room for coffee, says Upstate registered dietitian nutritionist Maria Erdman. New food guidelines from the U.S. departments of Agriculture and of Health and Human Services for the first time include coffee, she says, because research shows it may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia and some cancers. Nutritional recommendations designed to improve the health of Americans through diet are issued every five years.