Who can forget to learn how to eat healthy from the Food Pyramid? The colorful triangular shape gave us dietary guidelines for a healthier and longer life.
The first food pyramid was created in Sweden in the 1970sThere have been protests in the streets about the high prices of food, and the government has set up a commission to determine if a healthy diet can be put together at an affordable price.
Dr. Luise Light is the nutrition expert who created our familiar food guide pyramid. Opened to the public by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1992, it consisted of six of her blocks stacked from largest to smallest.
What is a food pyramid?
The food pyramid is a visual representation of food groups and provides dietary advice on what to eat for optimal health.
Foods at the bottom of the pyramid are refined grains such as rice, bread and pasta, and it is suggested to consume 6-11 servings daily.
Servings of fruits and vegetables were then reduced to 2-4 and 3-5 servings, respectively.
Next, they were advised to eat 2-3 servings of dairy products, followed by 2-3 servings of protein such as red meat, eggs, beans and nuts.
Fats and oils have reached the top of the pyramid and round out a balanced diet.
The food pyramid was based on the premise that people should get as much nutritional value as possible at the least amount of cost.
However, as our understanding of the impact of carbohydrates on weight and health and the benefits of healthy fats grows, the food industry may be following misleading advice.
Is the Food Pyramid Wrong?
We now know that fatty foods are not necessarily “bad” for the body. In fact, foods labeled as “low-fat” cause more problems than they prevent. It is known that
Consumers thought they were doing the right thing when they replaced high-fat foods with processed junk foods advertised as low-fat.
Low-fat, fat-free, and low-fat items Additives are often included Sugar, salt, chemical fillers, etc. were harmful to our health. Some of the side effects were risks to chronic disease, weight gain, and heart health.
In addition, due to the thoughtless overdose of carbohydrates, Many began to develop type 2 diabetesThis happened because their bodies were unable to produce enough insulin or process the excess insulin they produced.
Registered dietitian Susan Bowerman pointed to the fact that the underlying “grain” group is influenced by grain industry lobbyists.
Many believe that consumers have been duped by the food industry and large corporations.
The results of determining exactly what a healthy diet looks like have changed because they don’t maximize profits for food companies.
The recommended 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables have been reduced to 2-3 servings.
Grain companies have lagged behind adjusting the 5 servings of grain to a maximum of 11 servings.
As for dairy products, there were no recommendations, but they were added to benefit the dairy industry.
Companies have tricked consumers into thinking that carbohydrates are a separate food group from fruits and vegetables.
Luise Light, MS, who was part of the Pyramid’s inauguration, agreed, stating: cereals. “
Another problem with the food pyramid was the lack of guidance on portion sizes for each food group.
Apparently, the original food pyramid came with a booklet that explained how to measure portion sizes correctly.
some research has been done Over the years, including the Women’s Health Initiative and the Nurses’ Health Study, we found that overall fat consumption did not lead to coronary heart disease.
The food pyramid has been iterated several times since it was created. You’ll find that the latest iteration minimizes red meat and processed carbs, while adding daily exercise as a foundation.
Photo: Eat, drink and be healthy by Walter C. Willett, MD via Wikimedia Commons
Vegetables became independent from fruits and became plentiful. Whole grains and vegetable oils are specified over generalizations that existed before.
Amazingly, the new Pyramid even allows for moderate intake for those who can take multivitamins and alcohol.
The decision to make the change came as a result of the realization that the original pyramid did not result in a reduction in heart disease, obesity, or diabetes.
In 2011, USDA with First Lady Michelle Obama We took the helm and changed our dietary guidelines to: my plate modelThe idea was to encourage people to think about creating a balanced and healthy plate at mealtime.
The good news is that our diet is headed in the right direction, with an emphasis on fruit and vegetable intake, even when everything went wrong.
Niley Osler is an author from Seattle, Washington and the author of seven books. We cover lifestyle, entertainment, news, navigating the workplace, social issues and more.
