The New 411 on Breakfast Staples

By Kelsey Lindsey

You may have recalled my previous write-up on coffee — how, along with its elevating properties to help you be a more productive, happy, and ambitious force, it also packs some terrific health benefits.

It looks like I wasn’t alone in investigating these beneficial health properties. In February, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee released a report setting new recommendations for a national standard of dietary advice. Working my way through the report, I failed to repress a squeal of delight when it stated that coffee could actively reduce the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, then went on to say that healthy adults can drink up to five cups of black coffee a day without any ill effects. Looks like me and my Starbucks buddy are about to become really close.

Another favorite that got the a-ok? Eggs. The report said that cholesterol was not a “nutrient of concern,” and did not include any limits in its recommendations. Blood cholesterol is typically reflective of people’s overall diets — not just their cholesterol intake. A healthy diet should include plenty of vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains and limited amounts of “animal-based foods” like red meat. So go ahead and get all Portlandia and put an egg on that polenta, (whole grain) pasta dish, or wilted spinach salad.

Now, the bad news. My squeals of delight were sedated after reading the report’s findings on sugar. Do I know that added sugar, in all its forms, is bad for me? Yes. Would I gladly start my day with a bowl of Lucky Charms floating in a vat of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and sprinkles? Also, yes. But the facts are there, and my sweet tooth can’t object no matter how hard I try to coat them in delightful sugar.

Currently, Americans get about 13 percent of their calories from sugar, a number the committee would like to see lowered to 10 percent. The report also takes a fairly radical step in suggesting a tax on sugary beverages and food to encourage a decreased consumption of these foods. And it may be for a good reason — the committee found that almost half of Americans have preventable diseases related to an unhealthy diet, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and “diet-related cancers.”

So while you may not be able to enjoy that glazed donut with those eggs and … soy bacon? … feel free to keep the coffee flowing.