Dietary Guidelines Mislead Americans on Heart Health

Heart disease has remained the leading cause of death in the United States, prompting scrutiny of the nation’s dietary guidelines. According to Bret Scher, MD, a practicing cardiologist with over 20 years of experience, these guidelines may be failing the very individuals they aim to help. Despite adhering to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, many patients continue to experience worsening health outcomes, including increased weight and blood pressure.

The next edition of the Dietary Guidelines is set for release in early 2026, presenting a crucial opportunity to reevaluate and align federal nutrition policies with contemporary scientific evidence.

Since their inception in 1980, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services have issued these guidelines, which influence food served in schools, military facilities, hospitals, and even nursing homes. They also dictate nutrition education and inform benefits programs like SNAP and WIC. Dr. Scher argues that these recommendations have historically misled the public, particularly by stigmatizing saturated fats and cholesterol while promoting high-carbohydrate staples such as bread and pasta.

Decades of adherence to these guidelines have not yielded positive health outcomes. Today, approximately 93% of Americans experience metabolic dysfunction, and more than 75% of the population is classified as overweight or obese. Despite a decline in cholesterol levels, heart disease mortality rates continue to rise.

Dr. Scher recounts his own medical training, which emphasized a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet. Initially skeptical of low-carbohydrate or ketogenic diets, he began to observe remarkable transformations in patients who adopted these approaches. Improvements in insulin sensitivity, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure became evident, challenging long-held dietary assumptions.

A review of randomized trials supports these observations, indicating that low-carbohydrate diets significantly enhance weight management, blood sugar control, and blood pressure regulation. For individuals with type 2 diabetes, ketogenic diets have proven particularly effective, yielding substantial weight loss and improved blood sugar levels.

The forthcoming updates to the Dietary Guidelines present an opportunity to correct course. This revision could prioritize whole foods, eliminate limits on saturated fats, and incorporate low-carbohydrate options.

Dr. Scher emphasizes that heart disease is not an unavoidable fate. By updating the Dietary Guidelines to reflect current scientific understanding, millions of Americans may be positioned to improve their heart health. As the Times of San Diego originally highlighted, a well-informed approach to nutrition could have life-saving implications for many.