Are the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans finally catching up to what functional medicine has been saying for years—or are they still missing the root cause? In this episode, registered dietitian and functional nutrition expert Brigid Titgemeier breaks down what the 2025–2030 dietary guidelines really mean for women’s health, blood sugar, inflammation, hormones, and long-term metabolic health.

What You’ll Learn In This Episode:

1. Why ultra-processed foods are finally being called out—and why this matters for chronic inflammation
2. The truth about added sugar, pre-diabetes, and blood sugar regulation
3. How protein needs change as women age and why body composition matters
4. What the new guidelines say about gut health and the microbiome
5. Where the guidelines fall short for hormone health, perimenopause, and menopause
6. How government nutrition policy impacts school lunches, SNAP, and food access

Timestamps:

1. 01:00 Overview of Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030
2. 02:48 The Role of Dietary Guidelines in Public Health
3. 05:34 Critique of Added Sugar Recommendations
4. 10:41 Changes in Grain Recommendations
5. 15:26 Addressing Ultra-Processed Foods
6. 20:08 Increased Protein Recommendations
7. 23:37 Emphasis on Healthy Fats
8. 32:17 Gut Health and Microbiome Awareness
9. 40:48 Sodium and Electrolytes in Diet
10. 41:45 Conflicts of Interest in Dietary Guidelines
11. 49:30 The Importance of Fiber
12. 52:15 Critique of the Food Pyramid
13. 55:00 Impact of Dietary Guidelines on Food Access

Resources & Links:

The new dietary guidelines are a step forward—but understanding how to apply them through a functional, personalized lens is key.

+ Watch the full episode on YouTube

+ Brigid’s Website

+ Brigid’s Instagram