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Healthy Eating : The Food Pyramid - Good or Bad?
The food pyramid did do more than anything prior to educate people about the need for consumption of some items from each of the food groups. We need something from all of them in order to eat healthy and maintain our health. That fact no one is disputing. What we, as a population are beginning to question, however, are the daily caloric levels and recommended daily intake levels. Thanks to a growing awareness of individual needs, and the pressure from all areas of medicine, traditional and alternative, the USDA has now researched and republished their food pyramid. The original food pyramid had four food groups; the newly established pyramid has five. The new pyramid addresses many different issues, from age, weight, and gender requirements to overall health issues. Limiting the amount of intake and advice about the health concerns when we overeat is also included in the new food pyramid. It is now color coded, so that it is easier for children and adults to find where they fit. The new food pyramid is much improved in the area of individual concerns, and cautions to readers about individual considerations. For clarities sake, let’s take a look at each food group and offer a bit of explanation. The bread, cereals, rice and pasta food group has always been at the bottom and is meant to represent the food staples, the foundation of our diet. The next two groups, vegetables and fruits, are pretty much the same as they have always been. The next level of meats, poultry, fish dry beans, and eggs, as well as the milk, yogurt and cheese groups are where the reader will find some definite changes to the suggested consumption. The addition of information as far as suggested caloric intake, depending upon your lifestyle, and calorie content for fast food items was a demanded and welcome addition to the pyramid food guide. Other items of interest are suggested recipes, food substitutions, and tips on food selection. I think the USDA did a much better job with the new guide, than with the old one in creating an atmosphere of “you create your own plan from this information”. What we have seen as far as changes to the food pyramid and the addition of usual information is a direct result of some of the health conditions facing our population today. The inclusion of varying recommended levels depending upon your gender, lifestyle and age group is a result of further medical research and information reported by fitness and health facilities across the country. All this goes to reinforce the proof that your good health is an individual concern, and must be given individual attention. The pyramid food guide is just that, a guide. It is not your personal plan of required eating levels. It’s up to you to tailor the plan to meet your specific needs. DISCLAIMER: This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read. The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the FDA, and are not intended to “diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease". Wake Up Richer Every Morning... Instant Internet Business Makes Money Automatically... Thomas Hunter is an Internet marketer, author and publisher and has helped hundreds of people become successful Niche Marketers. Explore the highly profitable world of Niche Marketing at http://SixFigureNiches.com our popular membership website. Article Source: http://netsalesinc.com If you have a website or ezine you may freely post this article on your site as long as you include the full resource box above. All links must be active / clickable with no syntax changes.
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