NEW GUIDELINES ON DIET AND NUTRITION
2025-2030 edition of Dietary Guidelines for Americans (USDGA) was released on Jan. 7, 2026, to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA). The government puts out new editions once every five years.
The preamble states that nearly 90 percent of cost of health care is spent on management of chronic illnesses. Most of these disorders are attributable to unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle. The intent of the new guidelines is admirable, even though there could be room for debate about certain specific food items that were recommended.
Ultra-processed food: The biggest emphasis is to cut down on ultra-processed food, which has become all too common in our society. These food items are made by using industrial techniques, packaged and prepared, ready to eat with added sugar and salt, along with preservatives, emulsifiers, flavors and colors. They are convenient, cheap, tasty and make you eat more. They are high in calories, low in fiber and are proven to cause type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disorders, obesity, cancers, stroke, atherosclerosis, cognitive decline and depression. This advice is good since ultra-processed food is found to be responsible for chronic illnesses.
Proteins: The next emphasis is on taking much more proteins than previous recommendations. To obtain further proteins, this guideline encourages consumption of red meat and whole dairy products along with proteins in vegetables, nuts and legumes. This is open for debate since adequate quantity of proteins is already met in normal diet. Red meat is causative of many health issues resulting in cancers, constipation and colorectal problems, and increased atherosclerosis. Hence, this endorsement must be questioned and analyzed.
Sugar: Third recommendation is to reduce sugar and salt intake as much as possible. This includes all cola, fruit and energy drinks, snacks, cookies, candies, doughnuts, pastries, ice cream and sweet desserts. They will add to calories and increase chance of metabolic complications. Parents are urged to avoid giving any type of sugar for children under four years of age. Reducing sugar is also a good recommendation.
Alcohol: Next item is about reducing alcohol consumption. Previous recommendation was to take no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink per day for women. Current recommendation does not specify a quantity but asks one to reduce it as much as possible. While alcohol in any form is bad, strict prohibition is difficult to implement without controlling the industry.
Fats: Another item is healthy fats, recommended with eggs, seafood, meat, poultry, nuts, seeds, olives and avocado. Certain recommended items such as meat, beef tallow, butter, whole milk, full fat dairy products and cheese are open for disagreement. Many would consider these as unhealthy. Other scientific studies suggest reduction of saturated fats and providing moderate amounts of polyunsaturated fats. Method of cooking baked instead of fried food is better.
Carbohydrates: Finally, the list advocates whole grains, cereals, legumes and vegetables, but they are placed at the bottom of the preference list. In the past, these used to be at the top. Among the whole grains, brown rice, oats, quinoa, farro and whole wheat are included. Prior studies had recommended 50 percent of the nutrient from carbohydrates. Subtly, the endorsement appears to reduce carbohydrates and increase proteins instead.
In summary, the new guidelines are a mixed set of suggestions, some are good and some questionable. It is up to each individual to be informed and choose wisely and carefully and decide what to eat and not to eat. Everyone may have personal preferences, but we need to place science over politics.
EYE CARE
Spring, Screens and Sight: What Your Eyes Are Telling You This March
March is a month of quiet change. The light shifts. The days stretch a little longer. We begin driving more at dawn and dusk, spending more time outdoors and re-engaging with routines that demand visual endurance — work, screens, reading and travel. For many people, it is also the time when their eyes begin to feel different.
Some notice mild blur that comes and goes. Others experience glare while driving, irritation they blame on allergies, or eyes that simply feel tired sooner than they used to. Most dismiss these changes as seasonal or age-related and move on.
After decades of caring for eyes at every stage — from perfectly healthy to profoundly complex — I can say with confidence that eyes rarely complain without reason. They tend to whisper long before they shout. And spring is often when those whispers begin.
The truth is that vision is far more than reading letters on a chart. Seeing clearly is only one part of how the visual system functions. Our eyes must work together, focus effortlessly on different distances, tolerate light and glare, maintain a healthy surface, and do all of this for hours at a time without fatigue. When even one part of that system begins to strain, the brain works harder to compensate. That effort shows up as headaches, eye strain, fluctuating clarity, light sensitivity, or a sense that “something just isn’t quite right.”
This is why many people tell me they can still see well yet feel visually uncomfortable. That distinction matters.
Spring tends to expose these subtle imbalances. Increased sunlight reveals glare issues that went unnoticed during darker months. Longer daylight extends screen use. Seasonal allergies disrupt the delicate tear film that keeps vision clear and comfortable. Dry indoor air lingers, blinking decreases, and eyes that have been quietly compensating finally reach their limit.
Dry eye, in particular, is one of the most overlooked contributors to visual problems, even in spring. Watery eyes do not necessarily mean healthy eyes. In fact, allergy-related tearing often washes away the very components that keep the eye’s surface stable. Add prolonged screen use and certain medications, and vision can fluctuate despite otherwise “good eyesight.” People are often surprised to learn that dry eyes affect not just comfort, but the quality of vision itself — especially in bright light and at night.
Another common misconception I encounter is that cataracts only become relevant when vision is clearly impaired. In reality, cataract changes begin quietly. Early cataracts often affect contrast, color perception, and glare long before they cause an obvious blur. Many people adapt without realizing how much visual quality they’ve lost, adjusting their habits instead of addressing the cause. Modern eye care allows us to identify these changes early and guide patients thoughtfully, rather than waiting for vision to decline unnecessarily.
The same is true for vision correction in general. Whether someone is considering updating glasses, exploring laser vision correction, or simply understanding their long-term eye health, the most important step is not choosing a procedure — it is choosing a careful, experienced evaluation. Eyes are not identical, and meaningful vision care has never been one-size-fits-all. The best outcomes come from understanding how a person’s eyes function as a system and planning accordingly.
What concerns me most is how often people normalize visual discomfort. Eye strain is brushed off. Headaches are tolerated. Night driving is avoided. Screens are endured. These are not badges of aging; they are signals. Addressing them early is almost always easier — and more effective — than waiting.
Around the world, I see the same pattern repeated: people wish they had come sooner. Not because something went wrong, but because it could have been simpler. Vision is deeply personal. It shapes how we work, connect, move and enjoy life. Protecting it requires attention, timing, and experience.
As spring arrives, I encourage people to pause and listen to their eyes. Be aware of subtle changes. Don’t dismiss discomfort. Understand the role of dry eye. Learn where you stand with cataracts, even if they are early so you can take advantage of technological advances in multifocal and trifocal lens implants to seek vision freedom without glasses.
Seek thoughtful guidance when considering vision correction whether you are nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism or reading vison issue. And above all, choose care based on judgment and experience, not convenience.
Arun C. Gulani, M.D., M.S., is director and chief surgeon of Gulani Vision Institute in Jacksonville. He can be reached at [email protected] or visit www.gulanivision.com