Does The New Food Pyramid Bring Better Health?

A Healthy Food Pyramid?

New Food Pyramid: Better Or Worse?

Furthermore, it was also believed that particular people on the committee which created this older pyramid, were also associated with specific food industries. In it’s development, political influences were at the forefront. The food manufacturers with the most money had the strongest pull.

Unfortunately, this has proven to be the case with the development of the new food pyramid as well.

For example, some members of the scientific committee involved in working on some of the new guidelines had financial ties to the dairy industry.

It has been shown that there are links to eating meat and developing certain cancers. Meat has been associated with colon cancer and rectal cancer. Fat has been associated with prostate cancer.

Though a connection between meat and certain cancers has been presented, meat is still a “healthy” part of the new food pyramid.

The committee with ties to the dairy industry mentioned above is a part of the USDA organization. The USDA is an agency that has the “primary responsibility of promoting sales of American food commodities”. It is very unlikely that it will ever issue advice recommending the consumption of less meat.

Government agencies like the USDA appear to never be able to break free from the almighty dollar.

The New Food Pyramid: Description

The new food pyramid is comprised of six different colors placed next to each other in a triangular form. All colors begin wider at the base becoming narrower as they reach the apex.

These six colors signify physical activity, variety, proportionality, moderation, gradual improvement, and personalization.

On the side of the pyramid is a shaded figure of a man climbing a series of steps, which also narrow as they reach the apex of the pyramid. When a person is looking at this graphical representation, he or she is reminded of how important daily physical activity is.

The significance of this pyramid is highly based on your physical activity. A meal plan will be presented to you depending on your age, gender and amount of physical activity you are involved in.

This meal plan will be composed by a variety of foods represented by the different colors of the pyramid. This makes the portions of certain foods more individualized.

The New Food Pyramid: Summary

For example, meat and beans are grouped together. The results of eating meat on a regular basis will produce a very different outcome in time verses if you were to eat beans on a regular basis due to the amount of fat in meat.

Meal planning is basically a work in progress.

As a final thought, whether you adhere to this new pyramid or develop your own dietary guidelines, always remember, try and eat as many organic foods as possible rather than the all too prevalent commercial food.

Sources:

Nestle, Marion. What To Eat. New York. North Point Press. 2006 Willett, Walter C. M.D. and Skerrett, Patrick J. Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy. The Harvard Medical School Guide To Healthy Eating. New York. Free Press 2001.