Eat more whole grains, exercise more in final recommendations for food pyramid

Friday, August 27th 2004, 10:21 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Not any bread will do, a panel of doctors and scientists told the government Friday in issuing its final recommendations about what advice should go into the federal food pyramid.

The proposals for the five-year update of government's nutrition advice say people should eat at least three one-ounce servings of whole grains each day, ``preferably in place of refined grains'' or white bread.

The committee also called for Americans to control their weight by being physically active.

The recommendations could keep people very busy. To prevent weight gain, many people should do up to 60 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous activity, and those who have lost weight and want to keep it off may have to do up to 90 minutes, the report said.

Unlike the current guidelines, issued in 2000, the new recommendations do not specifically tell people to be moderate in their use of added sugars. But the scientists and doctors are not letting Americans off the hook on sugar. They say people still have to be careful in their intake as a way to keep their weight under control.

The recommendations go to federal officials who will prepare reports for the secretaries of Agriculture and of Health and Human Services, who must approve the findings before they can be issued. Officials expect the final nutrition report, and an updated version of the food pyramid, to be issued early next year.