Official Food Pyramid - Nutritional Guidelines - Diet Recommendations - Weight Loss & Nutrition
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Why Does the Official Food Pyramid Keep Changing? - You'd think that if anyone knew the state of nutrition, it would be the USDA. So why do the daily nutritional recommendations keep changing? Here's our take... The USDA is one of Diet Bites most trusted sources for information, but when one seriously studies the nutritional aspect of the body, it doesn't take a genius to see that even the USDA isn't quite sure what the definition of 'Perfect Nutrition' is because the recommended servings from food groups keep changing - and quite frequently at that. In addition, activity recommendations keep spinning as well.
The most recent update of the official food pyramid included an outcry for public input on the pyramid design as well as advice to individuals to pack more fruit, more vegetables, and more exercise into their daily diet. It's actually quite disturbing that at this point in time, we don't have a better understanding of what the human body needs to keep it running at optimum efficiency! So just why does this Diet Triangle keep changing? The food pyramid changes to adjust in part to research, as well as results garnered from ongoing studies, and perhaps at times to meet the needs of some agricultural groups. Keep in mind that the USDA is a governmental branch backed by a good many lobbyists. At Diet Bites, we are currently working on a project to help bring clarity to nutritional requirements. Although the food pyramid was a great idea in creating an awareness for nutritional needs, and the blocks on the pyramid could, in our interpretation, represent 'nutritional building blocks', the food pyramid provides very limited information to individuals. The problem? Individuals come in all shapes and all sizes and nutritional needs and activity levels may be very wide apart and therefore difficult to define in a single icon. Although the food pyramid addresses food and exercise, these are merely two components that influence nutrition - as well as longevity. Our genetic cesspool, height, age, weight, ethnic background, stress level, career, spirituality, how our food is grown and produced - including the insecticide issue and the "how processed foods are processed" issue - are just a few more of the influencing factors.
So what has Diet Bites got in mind? Our nutritional rendition is a tree that climbs high into the sky of nutrition. The trunk represents body height. Half of our tree is female; the other half male. Our goal is for our tree to expand on these issues while providing a clearer nutritional picture to individuals which will help make dieting and controlling weight a much easier task. One thing that we have asked while working on this project is, "What is more important - nutrition or longevity?" The answer is longevity, of course! The irony is that one can focus on the nutritional side of life, yet live a very short, very thankless and very discontented life. But when the elements that were mentioned above fall into the picture, and when they are placed in a desirous fashion, a person can have the best of all worlds. We hope to have our nutritional tree up soon, and in the meantime, don't stress out too much where your diet is concerned. Try as best as you can to adhere to the recommendations set forth on the USDA Official Food Pyramid, but if you fall down every now and then, don't stress out about it because the stress may be worse than the Diet Damage. |
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