USDA Pyramid: A Prescription for Obesity
Someone needs to tell the USDA that their food pyramid, which was supposed to help guide childhood nutrition, is really just causing the epidemic of childhood obesity. In the 1980’s, scientist thought that our diet needed to be based on refined carbohydrates like breads and pastas. That has been great for the grain business, but has been bad for our waistlines. These scientists forgot that our genetics, our bodies evolved to have a diet that is based on fruits and vegetables. Long before the grain industry spread from the Fertile Crescent, we were foraging on plants, seeds, and roots. This rapid shift of our nutrition towards one that is based on high-calorie carbohydrates has lead to larger waistlines because we are designed to conserve calories. Those carbohydrate calories get converted to fat. Isn’t it interesting how obesity really started to become a problem after the development of the USDA pyramid—a prescription for obesity.
So, why are they still promoting this flawed nutrition guide? That’s right; the USDA has recently launched “My Pyramid for Preschoolers” at www.mypyramid.gov . Unbelievable!
I guess they did not consult with the director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, David Herber, MD, PhD, who not only denounces the USDA pyramid, but has built a better one. This modern nutrition guide is called the “California Cuisine Food Pyramid” and is based on fruits and vegetables. With fewer calories per bite and powerful nutrients, a plant based diet is just what this doctor orders to improve health. My guess is that the United States Department of Agriculture is not really interested in our health. They seem more interested in supporting the farmers that primarily grow corn, wheat, and rice. Maybe, we should be shifting the growing practices of American agriculture rather than promoting obesity. Time to stand up against the promotion of the USDA pyramid and stand up for your health!
Obesity is really an epidemic these days. People have become very lazy and does not want to exercise anymore. I do a lot of jogging and brisk walking everyday just to be fit and healthy.