The traditional food pyramid has been revised and updated in 2005 by the USDA and do you know who changed the food pyramid? The USDA paid $2.5 million to a public relations/marketing group to help design this new food guide pyramid, and that group is best known for working for the dairy industry. In fact, historically, the dietary guide pyramids that the USDA has created have always focused on eating more food, drinking more milk, and basically consuming increasing amounts of everything the American food industry has produced.
Since the Food Pyramid was published, obesity rates have only increased in the United States. The traditional food pyramid suggests that the “healthy” diet consists of a generous amount of grains in the form of bread, rice, and pasta. Then you should eat a healthy amount of vegetables (3 servings) and fruits (2 servings) Third level, lean meats, eggs and beans (3 servings) and dairy (3 servings). Eat in moderation, fats, oils and sweets.
This model is extremely misleading for the general American population, as eating a diet high in grains and carbohydrates is not the best way to maintain a lean and healthy mind and body.
fat myth
The biggest mistake many of us make in our diets is that we cut out all fat and replace it with “low” fat substitutes. We have sacrificed many of the “good” fats, such as olive oil, collard greens, avocados, flaxseeds, and fish oils, that our bodies and brains need for healthy functioning, and replaced them with processed substitutes. “low” in fat.
wheat and gluten
The standard diet is full of wheat and gluten. A typical American diet consists of toast, pancakes, a muffin, a scone for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and pizza and pasta for dinner. Today, wheat is not what it was a hundred years ago. What has been genetically modified which has increased its gluten content up to 90 percent. In their book Dangerous Grains, James Brady and Ron Hoggan describe gluten as a protein to which the immune system reacts pathologically, leading to inflammation. Their claim is that gluten destroys healthy tissue through a molecular cross-reaction.
empty calories
We live in the land of plenty, we have lots of food and lots of calories, but what we have is nutrient deficient food full of empty calories. If you take corn or wheat out of the field and refine it, you take away all the good nutrition. You’re left with this empty carb, and it still conforms to the food guide pyramid to say, “Eat more grains.”
Food science is big business, and many companies have invested millions if not billions of dollars to create foods that are #1 packed with preservatives so they have a longer shelf life and don’t need to be replace them as often. with additives to entice the taste buds and create an addictive quality. Companies are figuring out how to rearrange the molecular structure of food so that you, the consumer, will buy it again and again. They are pouring extra salt, refined sugar, and chemical flavor enhancers into food to give it an addictively enhanced taste.
We need to stop accepting the idea that our government is taking good care of us. It is time to become aware of what you are putting into your body on a daily basis.
caveman diet
I also recommend going back to the days of the man caves. When you think about eating something, ask yourself, “Did this come directly from nature?” None of us is perfect and change happens slowly over time. Be kind to yourself and start making small changes to your diet. Do you eat buns and coffee for breakfast? Try eggs and turkey bacon instead. Instead of a sandwich for lunch, try the salad or ask them to take the bread off. I still have my moments, but in general I try to be good 80% of the time. Good health is about making good choices, but not feeling like you’re depriving yourself. Start where you are and become aware of what you are eating.
Resources:
The Anti-Inflammatory Diet and Cookbook by Jessica Black
The Honest Food Guide: Honestfoodguide.org
