Which Food Pyramid Promotes the Healthiest Diet?
By Sarah Clark
sarah.clark@chefschoolreview.com
Chef School Review Columnist
Academics at Harvard's School of Public Health assert that the USDA's Food Guide Pyramid is not the best dietary recommendation to follow for optimal health. While the USDA is in the process of updating its Food Guide Pyramid, Harvard experts have issued their own pyramid, which they say better reflects recent scientific research in the field of health and nutrition.
Since 1992, the USDA has set forth guidelines for Americans on what constitutes a healthy diet. In recent years, new research in the field of health and nutrition has led many in the health field to reassess the accuracy of the USDA Food Guide Pyramid. These voices include experts from Harvard's School of Public Health, who claim that the USDA Pyramid, among other things, doesn't adequately distinguish between good and bad carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
The Harvard School of Public Health also asserts that in advising people to adopt a low-fat diet, the USDA has sent a potentially harmful message. This message may have led to Americans' adopting a low-fat high-sugar diet, a regimen now considered unhealthy.
The USDA is currently in the process of updating its Food Guide Pyramid. In the meantime, you can read the USDA's Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 to get a sense of what shape the new Pyramid might be taking.
sarah.clark@chefschoolreview.com
Chef School Review Columnist
Academics at Harvard's School of Public Health assert that the USDA's Food Guide Pyramid is not the best dietary recommendation to follow for optimal health. While the USDA is in the process of updating its Food Guide Pyramid, Harvard experts have issued their own pyramid, which they say better reflects recent scientific research in the field of health and nutrition.
Since 1992, the USDA has set forth guidelines for Americans on what constitutes a healthy diet. In recent years, new research in the field of health and nutrition has led many in the health field to reassess the accuracy of the USDA Food Guide Pyramid. These voices include experts from Harvard's School of Public Health, who claim that the USDA Pyramid, among other things, doesn't adequately distinguish between good and bad carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
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The USDA Food Guide Pyramid: Wrong about Carbs, Fats, and Proteins?
The USDA Pyramid places proteins such as fish and bacon in the same category, even though bacon is much higher in bad fats, which increase the risk of disease. The Pyramid also groups together simple and complex carbohydrates, even though scientific research has revealed that complex carbohydrates - such as brown rice - are more nutritious than simple carbohydrates, such as white bread.The Harvard School of Public Health also asserts that in advising people to adopt a low-fat diet, the USDA has sent a potentially harmful message. This message may have led to Americans' adopting a low-fat high-sugar diet, a regimen now considered unhealthy.
The USDA is currently in the process of updating its Food Guide Pyramid. In the meantime, you can read the USDA's Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 to get a sense of what shape the new Pyramid might be taking.
Preparation for Careers in Food Nutrition
If you're interested in pursuing a career in nutrition or public health, you may want to consider taking a health program course. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those seeking a career as a nutritionist should have at least a bachelor's degree in dietetics, food and nutrition, or a related area.About the Author
Sarah Clark is a freelance writer based in Arlington, Virginia.Sources
Posted on May 17, 2005 at 8:53 PM
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