The new United States Dietary Guidelines, anticipated worldwide, were announced by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., on January 7, 2026. Basically, it emphasized consumption of “real food,” more protein, healthy fats, whole grains, less sugar, dairy products, fewer ultra-processed foods, and some alcohol allowed.”
In my 800-page book, “Let’s Stop ‘Killing’ Our Children,” about healthy lifestyle and disease prevention (on Amazon.com), published in 2011, fourteen years ago, I categorized “diet as the prime and major factor that impacts and determines our health and longevity.”
I suggested a wholesome high-protein, minimal carbohydrate diet of fish, chicken, vegetables, fruits, nuts, fresh (unprocessed) red meat in moderation, and daily use of olive oil (monounsaturated fats) for cooking…drinking from 1 to 4 tablespoonfuls of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) a day, is healthy, besides using it as a dip.
In my newspaper writings since 1997, I have advocated for a glass or two of red wine, especially my favorite Pinot Noir from Oregon, or a Martini, with dinner, which was deemed healthy at the time. However, data from 2018 now shows that no amount of alcohol is safe.
Ultra-processed foods (with industrial formulations, high sugars, high sodium, refined carbohydrates, and additives) and processed foods in the deli section (such as bacon, sausages, hot dogs, and other red meats, especially those grilled at high heat) are linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular ailments and cancer. I would recommend avoiding them.
Ready-made microwaveable lunches and dinner packs that are processed and have added sodium, unhealthy fats, sugars, additives, and coloring in them are not healthy. Always check the labels. Also, food must be transferred from plastic containers to a glass, porcelain, or ceramic plate or bowl when heating. Plastic containers leech microplastics into the food when heated.
Fermented food items are good for our bodies. While some dairy products, like pickles, kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir, kombucha, and sourdough, are fermented and are anti-inflammatory, full-fat cheese, butter, and regular milk are inflammatory food items and should be avoided. Eggs and fermented cheeses (Parmesan, Cheddar, Swiss, Mozzarella, or Goat cheese) are not inflammatory dairy products. (In the Philippines, fermented food items include buro and bagoong, among others.)
In the book, I also labelled soft drinks of any variety as “liquid candy poison,” which increases the risk for metabolic syndrome, especially for our children, not only because of the sugar in them (natural or artificial), but also for the phosphoric acid they contain. (This acid could be used to clean car carburetors to remove rust and heavy deposits, but used cautiously because it could pose harm to internal brass and plated parts. That’s how corrosive it is. I use Coca-Cola only for unclogging sink drains.
More than exercise, which is a great part of a healthy lifestyle, diet has a greater effect on our microbiome, a state (of balance or imbalance of bacteria) in our gut system, directly affecting our immune system and general health as a whole. As I have said in this column in the past, “We are what we eat,” and that our oral, heart health, and our microbiome (gut health) determine our health and longevity.
These new governmental guidelines are an improvement over the old ones. It will take at least a decade to feel and see the effects of this diet pyramid on people’s health.
Simplified in my book: Plant-based protein, fish, chicken, a card-sized red meat, fermented foods, vegetables, fruits, olive oil, whole grain, and nuts, and severely reduced sugars (carbohydrates, like rice, bread, sweets). Besides quality, quantity is essential for the maintenance of weight and the prevention or management of diabetes.
What and how much food we put on our plate, as always, is in our hands.
Hope for Alzheimer’s
Researchers are studying “a compound with neuroprotective properties that may repair damage and recover cognitive function, which could restore levels of a vital cellular energy molecule and reverse disease-related brain damage” in animal models. This prospect is welcome news and provides hope to the more than 55 million (projected to 100 million in 2050) around the world (7 million Americans and about 1 million Filipinos) with Alzheimer’s disease.
AI chatbot and suicide
There is no question that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here, and nothing can stop it. AI is one of the greatest achievements of man, but in the wrong hands, it could spell disaster for the world, just like many good devices on earth. AI is supposed to make us humans more comfortable, healthier, more efficient, more productive, more progressive, more secure, and live longer.
The UK nonprofit “Internet Matters” reveals that 64% of kids ages 9 to 17 have used an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot; among those users, 6 in 10 chat with one at least weekly… More than a third say it feels like talking to a friend, and 12% report they talk to chatbots because they have no one else to talk to.”
A devastating news, a warning: One of AI’s applications, the AI Chatbot, has alarmed the world about the tragedy of Adam Raine, a 16-year-old boy in California, who committed suicide, “misguided” by his chats with the imperfect AI Chatbot (algorithm), which did not possess the natural wisdom or compassion of a human. Chatbots are dangerous babysitters, companions, or mentors for young children or teenagers.
From the New York Times: This 16-year-old from California “began using ChatGPT for schoolwork but soon found himself discussing his plans to end his life with his ‘Chatbot friend.’ This went on for months. When Adam asked about suicide methods, ChatGPT supplied the information. When he uploaded a photo of his neck, raw from a noose, the bot advised him on how to hide the marks.” Adam was found dead on April 11, 2025, with no suicide note, just months of conversations with his ‘best friend, the chatbot’.
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Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, medical missionary, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He is a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, presented by then Indiana Governor, US senator, and later a presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry S. Truman, President George HW Bush, Astronaut Gus Grissom, pugilist Muhammad Ali, distinguished educators, renowned scientists, etc. (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com On Amazon.com, search for “Where is My America?” Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com