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
Chicago limo Skokie ..It's 5:30 p.m. and you're heading home after a long,... Read More
Are You Half The Man Your Father Was?It is a... Read More
The Omega Zone Diet and specialists' opinion"Omega RX Zone -... Read More
Better sleep = better metabolism. I have been saying it... Read More
Vitamin EThere has been a lot of controversy about vitamin... Read More
Most of us equate the word diet with calorie reduction.... Read More
Several years ago, Marilyn M. couldn't even spell fibromyalgia.Now she... Read More
Each and every person living in the UK is... Read More
OK, no more excuses. Here's how to stop making everyone... Read More
FOOD (Macro-nutrients)One of the most important aspects of hill walking... Read More
First of all you have to have a bucket. You... Read More
In large part, you're in control of your health, not... Read More
Protein must be a part of a healthy diet for... Read More
It seems as if the health of America is failing.... Read More
Following these simple nutrition guidelines will allow you to lose... Read More
This free list of fat burning foods will help you... Read More
They're not only good for you, but they taste good,... Read More
The secret of success is knowing how to deal with... Read More
What is the Atkins diet and how can it help... Read More
Images of "protein powder" containers with accomplished bodybuilders on their... Read More
In this newsletter we will discuss the current controversy about... Read More
There are a lot of very good reasons to eat... Read More
In this fast paced world, good nutrition may sound very... Read More
Fire ElementAccording to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there are five... Read More
Have you seen those "fat free" foods in supermarkets? Have... Read More
limo O'Hare Bonfield ..The old clich? that you are what you eat is... Read More
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in... Read More
If you're suffering from constipation, you are no doubt looking... Read More
Can the colors on your plate tell you what health... Read More
Nature works mostly on the principle of thing and no... Read More
You really are what you eat. You are also very... Read More
According to the National Institute of Health, Magnesium is needed... Read More
Did you know that there might be poison in many... Read More
BASIC MEAL & MENU PLANNINGAs a basis for meals and... Read More
OmegaRx Fish Oil, quoted as being close to a Medical... Read More
Recently, trans fats have risen to the forefront of the... Read More
To many people, this may seem a simplistic answer to... Read More
It is a question we must ask ourselves continually if... Read More
Fats (triacylglycerols) ...Some basic terminology ...fat or fatty acid ...In... Read More
The ingredients list found on the back or side panel... Read More
The word 'homeostasis' is made up of two Greek words:... Read More
Glowing skin comes free of charge to you. Our simple... Read More
I spent a few days at a resort in Mexico... Read More
The proliferation of fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and vending... Read More
Obesity is epidemic in this country for both children and... Read More
Secretly we all want just a few things in life,... Read More
You would probably think that I was writing a lot... Read More
You may have noticed an ever-expanding choice of oils at... Read More
Initially discovered as a new element in 1811 by Barnard... Read More
Whatever diet you choose to live by, the food you... Read More
Nutrition |