Nutrition for the Healthy Adult

Abstract

Many of today’s healthy adults will be plagued by chronic diseases, such as obesity, hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes, and be robbed of the quality of life they desire. According to the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, about half of all American adults have one or more diet-related chronic diseases. The question, “What should healthy adults eat to stay healthy?” may seem simple. However, many primary care providers feel vulnerable answering questions about nutrition. This review serves as a summary of the most up-to-date guidelines about added sugars, sodium, types of fat, and cholesterol for healthy adults and a refresher for health care providers caring for them. Other important related issues, such as the latest recommendations for physical activity, the problem of adult weight gain, the need for adiposity screening, the powerful role of the primary care provider, and suggestions nutrition-focused primary care, are discussed. This review contains 5 Figures, 5 Tables and 137 references Key words: weight gain, cholesterol, Dietary Guidelines, sugar-sweetened beverages, adiposity, added sugar, hydrogenated oils, physical activity, waist-to-height ratio, nutrition-focused, Primary Care