The Food Pyramid, first introduced to the US in 1992, just experienced a major overhaul. Why? Perhaps proper education about nutrition isn't as easy as picking out food from a colorful chart. Last month, The New England Journal of Medicine reported that childhood obesity was causing a retreat in average lifespan. That report seems to only cover part of the picture as chronic disease, such as cardiac dysfunction and Type II Diabetes have been on a steady rise in recent years. Because many people seem to be unwilling to learn how to make better lifestyle choices, it is only the toxic pharmaceutical drugs that seem to be extending the lives of these people.
Agriculture secretary Mike Johanns described the old food pyramid as being "quite familiar" to most Americans, "but few Americans follow the recommendations." The solution, found at www.mypyramid.gov, is apparently more colors and to make the bands travel downwards instead of horizontally. Yes, that counts as a solution where french fries and catsup count as two servings of vegetables in the school lunch program.
Well, some progress is better than no progress. On a positive note, the new dietary guidelines do recommend daily physical activity. If even a few people get out of their chairs because their government tells them too, these changes, and the expense of the marketing for all of this will be well-worth our tax dollars.
What is left out of these dietary guidelines is any source of education on timing of food intake. For example, how many of you are late-night eaters? Perhaps you have a bowl of cereal before bed? What do the cells do with all the extra starch and glucose as you sleep? The answer is they store it in the fat cells. If you think of a caveman, or woodland creature, bulking up before hibernation, you get the picture.
A better diet doesn't have to be entirely about sacrifice. It's more about better decisions. I'm not saying to stop eating ice cream. Consider some Wheat Germ or Grape Nuts as a toping. Both are excellent sources of dietary fiber and essential nutrients like Vitamin E, folate (folic acid), phosphorous, thiamin, zinc and magnesium. You get to have a tasty snack and sneak some nutrition through the teeth. Just don't eat it as a midnight snack!
Dave Saunders is a certified nutritional educator, wellness coach, member of the American International Association of Nutritional Education (AIANE) and author. He is also the host of a weekly, nation-wide telephone lecture on health and nutrition. For additional information, please visit http://www.glycoboy.com or http://www.glycoboy.com or email Dave at http://www.glycoboy.com
disinfecting cleaning services Arlington Heights ..Fruit calories are very healthy as compared to calories in... Read More
Olive oil is a healthy choice over other fats such... Read More
Being vegetarian is one of the greatest things in the... Read More
If you drop a bomb, you kill not only your... Read More
Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in... Read More
Random thoughts taken from valuable sources, what many nutrition experts... Read More
Having a large amount of such "visceral fat" is associated... Read More
You would probably think that I was writing a lot... Read More
Most of us eat at restaurants for a variety of... Read More
Mango is my favorite fruit next to pineapples. They're sweet,... Read More
On average 30% of foods in our daily diet are... Read More
Looking into statistics, we can see the average American consumes... Read More
We know we need to eat a minimum of 5... Read More
The wonders of modern science continue to amaze us with... Read More
PROTEIN DEFICIENT? CHANCES ARE YOU ARE!Did you know that 9... Read More
"It's not what you eat, it's what's eating you that... Read More
Millions of people around the UK consume dairy products on... Read More
If you are like most people, you've tried dieting before.... Read More
You can spot a juicer a mile off at the... Read More
Because of consumer demand, the food industry focus is on... Read More
Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are essential to the development... Read More
Better sleep = better metabolism. I have been saying it... Read More
Scandinavian fishermen are a healthy bunch. It had long been... Read More
Instead of Butter: Use top quality, cold pressed, extra virgin... Read More
About 12.6 million Americans currently have heart disease.1.1 million Americans... Read More
bathroom cleaning service Mundelein ..Since Dr Basant Puri, a consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer... Read More
The nutritional support in critically ill patients can be explained... Read More
According to the renowned research scientist and inventor of the... Read More
I read a lot about the topics of health and... Read More
First of all you have to have a bucket. You... Read More
Some say they don't or can't buy organic foods due... Read More
There's no doubt--carbohydrates have taken center stage in public discourse... Read More
Millions of people around the UK consume dairy products on... Read More
Food in general has the distinction of being probably the... Read More
These are questions we have to ask ourselves? because after... Read More
Endurance Sports are like music concerts. They start at a... Read More
For decades science has been looking for the answers to... Read More
First some terminology.Fructose ... a five carbon sugar that occurs... Read More
Water is the single most important element for human existence,... Read More
Here's a conundrum: While experts agree that high cholesterol and... Read More
When we think about the benefits of being ensuring a... Read More
Coke, more commonly known as cocaine is a highly addictive... Read More
Approximately 30 years ago, food manufacturers were competing against the... Read More
"You are what you eat."Does it sound familiar? You probably... Read More
Who suffers from Eating Disorders?Eating Disorder sufferers are male and... Read More
Inflammation is not a disease.Inflammation is best described as a... Read More
I am sure you have heard you have to build... Read More
Obesity is epidemic in this country for both children and... Read More
You may have noticed an ever-expanding choice of oils at... Read More
What are Glyconutritionals?The Greek word "Glyco" means "Sugar". Most people... Read More
Nutrition |