Cardiologists are voicing strong concerns over the recently released *2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans*, which advocate for increased consumption of saturated fats and protein while deemphasizing refined carbohydrates and added sugars. Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, contributing to one in three deaths globally. Experts contend that the new guidelines conflict with established nutritional science.
The revised dietary guidelines have led to a significant shift in the recommended food pyramid. Unlike previous guidelines, which urged caution regarding saturated fats from sources such as red and processed meats, the new recommendations place these foods in a prominent position alongside fruits and vegetables known for their health benefits. **Dr. Kim Williams**, chair of the department of medicine at the **University of Louisville**, argues that promoting saturated fat contradicts decades of research. He stated, “We’ve been researching this for decades, and we definitively know that saturated fat — such as butter fat, beef tallow, and red and processed meat — are closely associated with increased mortality from cardiovascular disease.”
This shift is particularly striking given the backdrop of **President Trump’s** executive order 14303, signed on **May 23, 2025**, which mandates that federal policies must be based on the best available scientific evidence. Cardiologists assert that the new dietary guidelines ignore substantial research, including randomized controlled trials that demonstrate replacing saturated fats with healthier options like vegetable and seed oils can reduce cardiovascular disease by approximately **30%**.
**Dr. Monica Aggarwal**, an adjunct clinical associate professor of cardiovascular medicine at the **University of Florida**, emphasized the potential misinterpretation of these guidelines. “People are going to look at the new pyramid and think, ‘Oh, I can eat as much steak as I like.’ Yet there is no debate that the saturated fat in those foods is linked to heart disease,” she said. The emphasis on protein, particularly from high-saturated-fat sources, is raising alarms among health professionals.
The guidelines suggest limiting saturated fat intake to less than **10%** of total daily calories, a figure that many experts deem unrealistic. The **Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health** recently analyzed the implications of the new recommendations. They found that if an individual follows the guideline of three servings of full-fat dairy daily, they could reach their saturated fat limit with just those foods, leaving little room for other dietary choices.
Experts also warn about the role of trans fats, particularly those found in processed foods, which are known to heighten the risk of heart disease. These unhealthy fats, banned in the U.S. except in minimal amounts, are a product of an industrial process that solidifies vegetable oils. Cardiologists like **Dr. Williams** have highlighted that natural trans fats present in animal products can also pose health risks, particularly when combined with high saturated fat diets.
Warnings about the dangers of saturated fat are not new. The **American Heart Association** has been advocating for a shift away from saturated fats since **1961**, based on extensive research linking these fats to heart disease. Over the years, guidelines from both the **American College of Cardiology** and the American Heart Association have consistently reiterated the importance of adopting healthier fat sources, such as polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats found in fish, nuts, and plant oils.
As discussions continue regarding the new dietary guidelines, experts emphasize the need for a balanced approach to nutrition. **Dr. Andrew Freeman**, a preventive cardiologist at **National Jewish Health** in Denver, noted that while protein is essential, the focus should be on the quality of fats consumed. Citing the benefits of the **Mediterranean diet**, he pointed out that emphasis should be placed on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats while limiting red meat and processed sugars.
The recent dietary guidelines have sparked a significant debate within the medical community, with many calling for a reevaluation of the recommendations based on credible scientific evidence. As health professionals advocate for a return to established nutritional science, the potential impact on public health remains a critical concern.
