The following guidelines are consistent with those promoted the organization: • Eat a nutritionally adequate diet consisting of a variety of foods. • Reduce consumption of fat, especially saturated fat, and cholesterol. • Achieve and maintain an appropriate body weight. • Increase consumption of complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber. • Reduce intake of sodium. • Consume alcohol in moderation, if at all. Children, adolescents, and pregnant women should abstain. • Elimination of cigarette smoking • Appropriate levels of caloric intake and physical activity to prevent obesity and reduce weight in those who are overweight • Consumption of 30% or less of the day’s total calories from fat • Consumption of 8% to 10% of total calories from saturated fatty acids • Consumption of up to 10% of total calories from polyunsaturated fatty acids • Consumption of up to 15% of total calories from monounsaturated fatty acids • Consumption of less than 300 mg/d of cholesterol • Consumption of no more than 2.4 g/d of sodium • Consumption of 55% to 60% of calories as complex carbohydrates • For those who drink and those for whom alcohol (ethanol) is not contraindicated, consumption should not exceed 2 drinks (1 to 2 oz of ethanol) per day American Heart Association