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May 25, 2013
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Nutrition Article
NEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FOOD GUIDE PYRAMID
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In NUTRITION, baby boomers receive healthy eating tips from health reporters and dietitians, many of whom are boomers, too.  Judy Swancutt Registered Dietitian |
(50PlusPrime) SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN --
The Food Guide Pyramid (FGP), created by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a visual standard for healthy eating, is over 10 years old, and it is showing its age. Current research has resulted in new criticism of the FGP.It seems to provide a license for poor eating because both healthy and less healthy food choices appear to have equal nutritional value if they belong to the same food group. When the FGP was first developed it was accompanied by text that explained healthier choices. Today the FGP has become a “stand alone” image for healthy eating with no accompanying text.
People are left to make their own choices. When given this choice many will assume that a 4-ounce bagel is a health food. It is not. There is mounting support recommending that the pyramid be revised to represent the vast amounts of research. The USDA may be listening to these recommendations and a revision may be forthcoming, but not until 2004 at the earliest.
The problem with the FGP is not so much what it says but what it leaves unsaid. Proposals for a new FGP would keep the image of the pyramid but would make changes in the placement of foods. In many instances food groups would be divided, as all foods within a food group are not equally healthy. Some of these recommendations include:
- The very top of the FGP in the “use sparingly” section would include red meat, butter and all saturated fats as well as white rice, white bread, pasta and sweets.
- Near or at the base would be whole grain cereals, pastas, and breads with recommendations to include at almost every meal.
- Vegetable oils such as olive, canola and peanut would also have a greater emphasis as part of a healthy diet. These heart healthy fats are not the fats used in cakes, cookies and pastries.
- Dairy products could be lumped in a group with calcium supplements. There is much controversy on this, as milk does have other health benefits (See article dated 10-6-02 on “Milk for Weight Loss”), but there is also a large population of people who do not drink milk due to intolerance or allergies (Pop or soft drinks are not a good substitute for milk no matter how many vitamins and minerals are added.)
- Fish, poultry, and eggs would be in a group separate from red meat. Much research gives evidence that red meat can be a heart hazard if consumed too often.
- Nuts and legumes are recommended as a separate group to be consumed daily and as often as 1-3 times per day. This places a greater emphasis on vegetable sources of protein.
- Vegetables are recommended in abundance and fruit is included 2-3 times per day. Vegetables are a low calorie source of vitamins, minerals and nutrients and while fruit does contain many of the same, it is at a higher calorie cost. Juices can easily be over-consumed thereby making them unhealthy and fattening.
At the very base of the FGP is daily exercise.
By decreasing overly processed foods and increasing activity the body is able to maintain health for many, many years.
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