(Special to The Dallas Examiner) – WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, TX-30; Congressman Bob Latta, OH-05; Congressman Ami Bera, M.D., CA-06; Congresswoman Stephanie Bice, OK-05; Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, ME-01; and Congressman Tim Walberg, MI-05, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Tuesday calling for the inclusion of a water icon to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans MyPlate graphic.

Previously depicted as the ‘food pyramid’, the current MyPlate graphic is meant to represent the latest and most accurate nutritional guidance and portion recommendations for average daily food intake, but currently does not include a depiction of water.

“Currently, the MyPlate graphic indicates five food categories that lead to a healthy diet – dairy, fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein,” a representative said. “The current MyPlate graphic includes dairy – and that should continue – but it does not include water. The addition of a water symbol to MyPlate would put a spotlight on the importance of drinking water and would be a key strategy in helping Americans to consider healthy beverage options, improve diet quality, and positively affect their overall health.

“Water – whether tap, bottled, or filtered – is essential to life and is critical to a healthy lifestyle. Adding the water symbol to MyPlate provides an opportunity for conversations about choosing healthy beverage options and developing better lifetime habits. In addition to ensuring that the human body remains hydrated, water provides a defense against a litany of negative health effects including, but not limited to, adverse cognitive and digestive functions, reduced muscle performance, weakened immunity, and fatigue, as well, of course, as being a healthy substitute for beverages that are a risk factor for diet related chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and other metabolic diseases, heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions, dental caries and more.”

Over 50 members from both sides of the aisle have signed the letter, which was sent the same day to Secretary Becerra of HHS and Secretary Vilsack of the Department of Agriculture.

This is at least the second attempt to promote hydration through the MyPlate program. Sent in 2019, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson was one of 60 members of Congress to sign the letter.

With the 2020 guidelines including birth through 24 months for the first time, the authors of the letters hoped that adding the water icon would promote the inclusion of water along with breast milk and/or infant formula between 6 and 12 months – once solid foods are introduced. Moreover, it would continue as a daily habit as children grow.

Both letters were aimed at reducing incidents of dehydration, which often lead to unhealthy side effects, such as adverse cognitive and digestive functions, reduced muscle performance, weakened immunity and fatigue.

“Including water on nutrition educational tools is practiced by governments around the world.

Fervently, at least 48 countries promote water consumption in their nutrition guidance graphics,” the 2019 letter read. “However, the United States lags behind in this regard as water is noticeably absent on the most prominent educational tool that the government uses to promote a healthy diet – the MyPlate nutritional graphic.”