The food pyramid is a pretty accurate source for knowing how
much of a single food category to consume from daily. The food pyramid is a diagram that ranks the
foods that you should eat the most of, all the way up to the foods that you
should avoid and eat less of.
Any food you eat should be carefully eaten in moderation. Too
much of anything is harmful to the human body. “Even a good thing can become destructive if
taken to excess.” Says Author Brandon Sanderson. The official food pyramid, which is shown
below actually specifies the number of servings you should be eating from each category daily.
"The food pyramid was conceived in the 1960s due to an
increase in Americans getting heart disease" ("Food Pyramid
History"). The food pyramid has gone through a lot of changes since its
creation and additions since its beginning. The United States Department of
Agriculture regulates and introduces these changes.
The bottom level of the food pyramid is reserved for the food
group grains. Grains are said to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as
heart disease. Grains are also a great source of B vitamins and fiber which
helps prevent constipation. (“Why Is It
Important”). According to the food pyramid 6-11 servings should be eaten every
day.
Above the grains is a section split into a fruit and a
vegetable section. Fruits and vegetables provide the majority of the body’s
nutrients and vitamins and are great for the body not only for taste but a
variety of other reasons. “Eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits as part
of an overall healthy diet may reduce risk for heart disease, including heart
attack and stroke.” It is recommended that 3-5 servings of vegetables are eaten
every day, and 2-4 servings of fruit eaten.
The next section is for animal products, dry beans, and nuts.
Animal products include meats, fish, eggs, and dairy. Although these sources
often contain cholesterol, these food groups provide protein, calcium, and
probiotics which are good for digestion. 2-3 servings should be consumed daily
according to the USDA.
At the top of the pyramid are fats, oils, and sweets. These foods
are unhealthy to the body and are the leading cause of many illnesses, and
disease in America. If we consume these things in moderation we will be much
healthier overall.
Works Cited
"Food Pyramid History." Food Pyramid History. Web.
19 Apr. 2014.
"Why Is It Important to Eat Grains, Especially Whole
Grains?" Health jjjjjand Nutrition Benefits
of Grain. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.
Thank you for sharing the food pyramid. Having a Ramen budget makes looking at what I should be eating intimidating, I do wonder with every using vitamin and workout supplements, how will those fit in the pyramid.
ReplyDeleteRamen soups contain about 900mg of sodium which comes from the flavor packet. Too much sodium in the body causes high blood pressure. Vitamins and supplements are meant to complement your diet and are better absorb in the digestive system in conjuction with nutritious foods as it is shown above in the food pyramid.
DeleteI have always found the food pyramid to be both a good source of information and also a somewhat misleading one. Adding up the low and high ends of recommended daily servings it is suggested that an individual should eat somewhere between 15-26 combined servings of the varied food groups. That sounds like a lot due to the fact that portions are not specifically discussed. A portion of each item is relatively small and I believe that giving people an image of that would help in determining which foods to eat.
ReplyDeleteA pyramid that is poplar in today's society is the 'Paleo Pyramid.' It emphasizes less on fruits and more on green veggies, where meat, poultry, and fish are in the middle, and it completely disregards grains. Personally, I have found this pyramid to be the most beneficial. After some research, I found that diary is not necessarily a necessity, but an increase in green vegetable intake is highly recommended as a person ages. The 'Paleo Diet' is popular among high intensity trainees and a younger crowd since it incorporates but fruits and vegetables, as well as meats. Paleo practitioners seems to get the best of both worlds, both carnivorous and,practices a vegetarian lifestyle, if done right.
ReplyDeleteBelow is a general summary of the "paleo pyramid.'
http://eatdrinkpaleo.com.au/paleo-diet-food-list/
I find your blog very insightful. You should take a look at a blog by Sarah Barendse called Food Pyramid Conspiracy. I believe that you would get a lot out of learning about what people who don't find the pyramid useful think.
ReplyDeletehttp://blogs.naturalnews.com/food-pyramid-conspiracy/