Federal Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee: Caffeine helps stave off heart disease, Type-2 diabetes, and other chronic diseases.

The federal Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has finally determined that three to five coffee drinks a day is good for you, because there is scientific evidence that caffeine helps stave off heart disease, Type-2 diabetes, and other chronic diseases. 

The new recommendations take into account recent scientific studies that provide new insights into what constitutes a healthy diet. The Department of Health and Human Services and the US Department of Agriculture are expected to move quickly to approve the committee’s recommendations.

The committee also recommends that Americans eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains — a common-sense approach. But before declaring open season at the supermarket, perhaps the most important news was in the guidelines that remain. What it may have given back to Americans in dark roast, it continues to take away in added-sugar intake, particularly in sweetened beverages.

The committee found such a strong connection between added sugar and obesity, Type-2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease that its recommendations go far beyond personal intake to policy prescriptions.  It actually advocates:

1. Beverage taxes -  because there is a shortage of taxes, isn't there?
   
2. Reducing the marketing of sugary drinks to children and the availability of added sugars in school and youth settings.
   
3. Running  campaigns to convince young adults to cut sugar consumption. Good luck with that!
   

Let's look at the bright side - they've proven caffeine (in moderation, up to 400 mg/day) to be a health saving product. Who can ask for anything more from the feds?