A while back, I set out to find a healthier way of eating than the standard American diet, which is laden with fat, sodium, sugar, and a variety of dangerous chemicals. I thought a good place to start would be the USDA food pyramid, which had been ingrained into my brain from an early age. After studying it as well as its successor, MyPlate, I was left unfulfilled.
Among the primary issues with the pyramid may be the recommendation for all of us to consume six to eleven servings of breads, pastas, along with other grain items every single day. Besides research suggesting that's an excessive amount, there's no reference to whole grain products versus refined grains. Another disadvantage would be that the pyramid lumps meat, chicken, seafood, and nuts together despite wide differences in dietary values. Chicken typically has considerably less body fat than meat, some seafood, and nuts. Furthermore, it does not separate the healthy fat in seafood and nuts in comparison to the unhealthy, saturated fat frequently found in most cuts of meat. I additionally believe there to become an excessive amount of dairy at 2-3 portions each day. The top portion of the pyramid lists fats, oils, and sweets, again not separating healthy fats in certain oils and bad fats in sweets. Finally, fat is not actually a food category like meat, nuts, or dairy. It is just confusing to people.
A few years ago, the food pyramid was changed to MyPlate. Even though the MyPlate recommendations suggest more servings of fruits and veggies, it still lacks elsewhere. The recommendations still permit refined grains to make up 1/2 of all grains. Meanwhile, they don't differentiate processed meat like hotdogs and sausages. Lastly, healthy fats are totally missing in the plate and there were no improvements made to the dairy section of the pyramid.
Thankfully, I came across a better way. It's called the Healthy Eating Pyramid, created by Harvard University based on legitimate nutritional research without influence from the food industry lobby, something that cannot be said for the USDA's efforts. Harvard's pyramid makes a number of key improvements and distinctions compared to the USDA's recommendations. First, not only are there distinctions made between whole grains and refined grains, the quantity of refined grains is significantly reduced. The same thing goes for red meat and processed meats. They are separated from fish and poultry, and recommended to be eaten sparingly.
Harvard's pyramid also contains sections on healthy oils, nuts, and seeds, distinguishing between healthy (unsaturated) and unhealthy (saturated) fats. Dairy consumption is also suggested to be less than the USDA's version at 1-2 servings per day or a vitamin D and calcium supplements. Researchers also recommend daily exercise and vitamins.
Overall, this appears to be a drastic improvement to the government's nutritional recommendations. It is appears to be unbiased and based on legitimate research. If you're looking for a better way, this could be exactly what you're searching for. Good luck!
Among the primary issues with the pyramid may be the recommendation for all of us to consume six to eleven servings of breads, pastas, along with other grain items every single day. Besides research suggesting that's an excessive amount, there's no reference to whole grain products versus refined grains. Another disadvantage would be that the pyramid lumps meat, chicken, seafood, and nuts together despite wide differences in dietary values. Chicken typically has considerably less body fat than meat, some seafood, and nuts. Furthermore, it does not separate the healthy fat in seafood and nuts in comparison to the unhealthy, saturated fat frequently found in most cuts of meat. I additionally believe there to become an excessive amount of dairy at 2-3 portions each day. The top portion of the pyramid lists fats, oils, and sweets, again not separating healthy fats in certain oils and bad fats in sweets. Finally, fat is not actually a food category like meat, nuts, or dairy. It is just confusing to people.
A few years ago, the food pyramid was changed to MyPlate. Even though the MyPlate recommendations suggest more servings of fruits and veggies, it still lacks elsewhere. The recommendations still permit refined grains to make up 1/2 of all grains. Meanwhile, they don't differentiate processed meat like hotdogs and sausages. Lastly, healthy fats are totally missing in the plate and there were no improvements made to the dairy section of the pyramid.
Thankfully, I came across a better way. It's called the Healthy Eating Pyramid, created by Harvard University based on legitimate nutritional research without influence from the food industry lobby, something that cannot be said for the USDA's efforts. Harvard's pyramid makes a number of key improvements and distinctions compared to the USDA's recommendations. First, not only are there distinctions made between whole grains and refined grains, the quantity of refined grains is significantly reduced. The same thing goes for red meat and processed meats. They are separated from fish and poultry, and recommended to be eaten sparingly.
Harvard's pyramid also contains sections on healthy oils, nuts, and seeds, distinguishing between healthy (unsaturated) and unhealthy (saturated) fats. Dairy consumption is also suggested to be less than the USDA's version at 1-2 servings per day or a vitamin D and calcium supplements. Researchers also recommend daily exercise and vitamins.
Overall, this appears to be a drastic improvement to the government's nutritional recommendations. It is appears to be unbiased and based on legitimate research. If you're looking for a better way, this could be exactly what you're searching for. Good luck!
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