ABSTRACT
The role of food in the prevention of disease and maintenance of health has been a major research focus of nutrition during the past two decades. Every 5 years the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) jointly publishes with the Department of Agriculture (USDA) a Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The Guidelines provide science-based advice to promote health and to reduce risk for major chronic diseases through diet and physical activity. Diet plays a key role in the prevention of at least six of the ten leading causes of death in the United States, for example, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and osteoporosis.
