Cholesterol and sodium may have a tough time shedding their bad rap, but they are among ingredients that feature less prominently in the eighth version of the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which were released on Jan. 7.

In its latest recommendations, the government dropped its warning about avoiding cholesterol in the diet entirely, and eased up somewhat on concerns about salty foods, the Washington Post reported. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also did away with longstanding suggestion that "not eating breakfast has been associated with excess body weight" and now remains mum on the "most important meal."

The guidelines, which are updated every five years, received unusual scrutiny this time around as experts questioned whether the advice was truly based on sound science. Congress tackled that concern in a hearing in December and signed off on a proposal that prompts the National Academy of Medicine to review how the Department of Agriculture and the HHS come up with their recommendations.

The content of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is significant because it serves as the basis for putting together the school lunches for millions of school children and informs public health campaigns to reduce heart disease, diabetes and cancer, the Washington Post noted.

Despite the controversy, HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell insisted that the document remains a valuable tool for Americans aiming to achieve a healthy diet.

"Protecting the health of the American public includes empowering them with the tools they need to make healthy choices in their daily lives," Burwell said in a statement.

The secretary encouraged consumers to study the advice book for practical suggestions as to how to improve the way they shop and eat.

"By focusing on small shifts in what we eat and drink, eating healthy becomes more manageable," she said. "The Dietary Guidelines provide science-based recommendations on food and nutrition so people can make decisions that may help keep their weight under control, and prevent chronic conditions, like Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease."

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