Is the food pyramid healthy?

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  • OctoberRed
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    #1

    Is the food pyramid healthy?

    Why does the food pyramid include so many carbohydrates? How have recommendations changed over time? — Denise, Park City, Utah

    I am an ‘80s baby, so when I think of nutritional guidelines my mind automatically conjures up this:

    Heavy on the bread and pasta, this diet doesn’t exactly jive with low-carb modern food trends like keto and paleo. As a teen, I used it to justify a diet that consisted primarily of bagels and cream cheese, arguing to my mother I was merely adhering to government-recommended nutrition guidelines.

    But the pyramid has changed since then. In fact, it’s no longer a pyramid at all. Dietary guidelines for Americans are updated every five years, based on the latest scientific evidence, a spokesperson for the US Department of Agriculture tells me.

    The USDA published its first dietary advice in 1894, suggesting a diet balanced between protein, carbohydrates, fat and “mineral matter.” During the Great Depression, and again during World War II, recommendations were adapted to help people cope with economic disparity and supply shortages. As troops marched across Europe, the USDA suggested Americans focus on seven basic food groups:

    In the 1980s, USDA officials expanded their view past just getting enough nutrition, and also considered preventing disease. They mostly did so by urging people to limit the consumption of fats, sugars and salt. But not everybody noticed the new guidelines. That’s where the food pyramid came in. After years of consumer study, it debuted in 1992 with an eye-popping design. The image, along with Beanie Babies and the ****e Girls, became one of the era’s icons. (If you want to go deep on the history here, read this.)

    The pyramid had one somewhat chaotic-looking redesign in 2005, this time putting more emphasis on veggies (and exercise, with a person climbing stairs along the side of the pyramid).

    Then in 2011, the pyramid disappeared. The USDA replaced it with the design we still have today, a plate divided into five categories:

    Gone is the bread basket of yesteryear. Fruits and veggies make up half the plate. And fats — the former top of the pyramid, lumped together with sweets — are now absent altogether. It’s not quite paleo — sometimes referred as the “caveman diet” — but it does reflect a newer understanding of the importance of fruits and vegetables.

    MyPlate, as the new graphic is dubbed, has its critics. Harvard University, for example, launched a competing graphic that emphasizes whole grains and healthier proteins including fish, poultry and beans, over red meat. It recommends limiting dairy, consuming healthy oils (like olive oil) and drinking water.

    The truth is that we are still learning about what makes people lose, gain and maintain weight. And as we learn, the guidelines will probably change, too. — Kristen V. Brown

    At 75, the UK’s National Health Service is buckling under the weight of underfunding and a yearslong backlog of patients.

    An analysis by a team of Bloomberg News journalists underscores just how deep the problems run at the public health service — and how difficult they will be to fix. It also shows that, in many cases, a person’s postal code can affect whether they live or die when seeking care.​
  • markusmod
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    #2
    Originally posted by OctoberRed
    Why does the food pyramid include so many carbohydrates? How have recommendations changed over time? — Denise, Park City, Utah

    I am an ‘80s baby, so when I think of nutritional guidelines my mind automatically conjures up this:

    Heavy on the bread and pasta, this diet doesn’t exactly jive with low-carb modern food trends like keto and paleo. As a teen, I used it to justify a diet that consisted primarily of bagels and cream cheese, arguing to my mother I was merely adhering to government-recommended nutrition guidelines.

    But the pyramid has changed since then. In fact, it’s no longer a pyramid at all. Dietary guidelines for Americans are updated every five years, based on the latest scientific evidence, a spokesperson for the US Department of Agriculture tells me.

    The USDA published its first dietary advice in 1894, suggesting a diet balanced between protein, carbohydrates, fat and “mineral matter.” During the Great Depression, and again during World War II, recommendations were adapted to help people cope with economic disparity and supply shortages. As troops marched across Europe, the USDA suggested Americans focus on seven basic food groups:

    In the 1980s, USDA officials expanded their view past just getting enough nutrition, and also considered preventing disease. They mostly did so by urging people to limit the consumption of fats, sugars and salt. But not everybody noticed the new guidelines. That’s where the food pyramid came in. After years of consumer study, it debuted in 1992 with an eye-popping design. The image, along with Beanie Babies and the ****e Girls, became one of the era’s icons. (If you want to go deep on the history here, read this.)

    The pyramid had one somewhat chaotic-looking redesign in 2005, this time putting more emphasis on veggies (and exercise, with a person climbing stairs along the side of the pyramid).

    Then in 2011, the pyramid disappeared. The USDA replaced it with the design we still have today, a plate divided into five categories:

    Gone is the bread basket of yesteryear. Fruits and veggies make up half the plate. And fats — the former top of the pyramid, lumped together with sweets — are now absent altogether. It’s not quite paleo — sometimes referred as the “caveman diet” — but it does reflect a newer understanding of the importance of fruits and vegetables.

    MyPlate, as the new graphic is dubbed, has its critics. Harvard University, for example, launched a competing graphic that emphasizes whole grains and healthier proteins including fish, poultry and beans, over red meat. It recommends limiting dairy, consuming healthy oils (like olive oil) and drinking water.

    The truth is that we are still learning about what makes people lose, gain and maintain weight. And as we learn, the guidelines will probably change, too. — Kristen V. Brown

    At 75, the UK’s National Health Service is buckling under the weight of underfunding and a yearslong backlog of patients.

    An analysis by a team of Bloomberg News journalists underscores just how deep the problems run at the public health service — and how difficult they will be to fix. It also shows that, in many cases, a person’s postal code can affect whether they live or die when seeking care.​
    They always pitched these things in my school

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    • Dobyzhee
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      #3
      Yes, the pyramid is upside down..if you want to diet and lose weight a combination of exercise plus going low carb diet is the way to go.

      calories in equals calories out..and u will lose weight.

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      • Rockybigblower
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        #4
        Healthier than the one they found Tutankhamun in.

        Tutankhamun, often referred to as "King Tut", was an Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, who ruled during the New Kingdom. Since the discovery of his intact tomb by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon 95 years ago to this day, many archaeologists have dedicated their lives to finding out more about how this powerful ruler died before the age of 20. However, few have managed to survive long enough to make real progress, with 22 of the original archaeologists mysteriously passing away.

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        • OctoberRed
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          #5
          Originally posted by Rockybigblower
          Healthier than the one they found Tutankhamun in.

          Tutankhamun, often referred to as "King Tut", was an Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, who ruled during the New Kingdom. Since the discovery of his intact tomb by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon 95 years ago to this day, many archaeologists have dedicated their lives to finding out more about how this powerful ruler died before the age of 20. However, few have managed to survive long enough to make real progress, with 22 of the original archaeologists mysteriously passing away.
          King Tut or boxing's King Tug

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          • Omegamanic
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            #6
            Originally posted by OctoberRed
            Why does the food pyramid include so many carbohydrates? How have recommendations changed over time? — Denise, Park City, Utah

            I am an ‘80s baby, so when I think of nutritional guidelines my mind automatically conjures up this:

            Heavy on the bread and pasta, this diet doesn’t exactly jive with low-carb modern food trends like keto and paleo. As a teen, I used it to justify a diet that consisted primarily of bagels and cream cheese, arguing to my mother I was merely adhering to government-recommended nutrition guidelines.

            But the pyramid has changed since then. In fact, it’s no longer a pyramid at all. Dietary guidelines for Americans are updated every five years, based on the latest scientific evidence, a spokesperson for the US Department of Agriculture tells me.

            The USDA published its first dietary advice in 1894, suggesting a diet balanced between protein, carbohydrates, fat and “mineral matter.” During the Great Depression, and again during World War II paver sealing las vegas, recommendations were adapted to help people cope with economic disparity and supply shortages. As troops marched across Europe, the USDA suggested Americans focus on seven basic food groups:

            In the 1980s, USDA officials expanded their view past just getting enough nutrition, and also considered preventing disease. They mostly did so by urging people to limit the consumption of fats, sugars and salt. But not everybody noticed the new guidelines. That’s where the food pyramid came in. After years of consumer study, it debuted in 1992 with an eye-popping design. The image, along with Beanie Babies and the ****e Girls, became one of the era’s icons. (If you want to go deep on the history here, read this.)

            The pyramid had one somewhat chaotic-looking redesign in 2005, this time putting more emphasis on veggies (and exercise, with a person climbing stairs along the side of the pyramid).

            Then in 2011, the pyramid disappeared. The USDA replaced it with the design we still have today, a plate divided into five categories:

            Gone is the bread basket of yesteryear. Fruits and veggies make up half the plate. And fats — the former top of the pyramid, lumped together with sweets — are now absent altogether. It’s not quite paleo — sometimes referred as the “caveman diet” — but it does reflect a newer understanding of the importance of fruits and vegetables.

            MyPlate, as the new graphic is dubbed, has its critics. Harvard University, for example, launched a competing graphic that emphasizes whole grains and healthier proteins including fish, poultry and beans, over red meat. It recommends limiting dairy, consuming healthy oils (like olive oil) and drinking water.

            The truth is that we are still learning about what makes people lose, gain and maintain weight. And as we learn, the guidelines will probably change, too. — Kristen V. Brown

            At 75, the UK’s National Health Service is buckling under the weight of underfunding and a yearslong backlog of patients.

            An analysis by a team of Bloomberg News journalists underscores just how deep the problems run at the public health service — and how difficult they will be to fix. It also shows that, in many cases, a person’s postal code can affect whether they live or die when seeking care.​
            The inclusion of a significant number of carbohydrates in the food pyramid can be attributed to the historical context and evolving understanding of nutrition over time. The food pyramid has undergone several changes in its design and recommendations based on scientific evidence and shifting dietary perspectives. The original dietary advice published by the USDA in 1894 suggested a balanced diet between protein, carbohydrates, fat, and "mineral matter." During times of economic disparity and supply shortages, such as the Great Depression and World War II, dietary recommendations were adapted to meet the challenges people faced during those periods. In the 1980s, the focus expanded beyond just meeting nutritional needs to also consider disease prevention. The USDA urged people to limit the consumption of fats, sugars, and salt to promote healthier eating habits. The food pyramid, introduced in 1992, was designed to visually represent these guidelines and became an iconic image of that era. However, as nutritional research continued, recommendations evolved to prioritize certain food groups over others. In 2011, the food pyramid was replaced with MyPlate, a plate divided into five categories: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy. This design reflected a newer understanding of the importance of fruits and vegetables in a healthy diet. Fats, which were once grouped together with sweets at the top of the pyramid, were no longer included as a separate category. It's important to note that nutritional guidelines are based on the best available scientific evidence at the time and are subject to change as new research emerges. Different organizations and experts may have varying views on the ideal dietary composition, leading to the development of different dietary graphics like MyPlate and other alternatives. As we continue to learn more about nutrition and its effects on health, dietary guidelines may continue to evolve. It's essential for individuals to stay informed about current recommendations and consult with healthcare professionals to make informed decisions about their dietary choices.

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            • F l i c k e r
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              #7
              Probably not. I think grains probably should be less.

              All the studies of the most healthy people on the world with the longest living people,

              Their diets don't have much breads or grains. Mediterranean and Japanese(Okinawan) diets in particular don't do much grains and bread but do have a lot of vegetables and fish in particular.

              That study probably needs to be changed with the amount of nuclear waste, chemicals etc in the water. Particularly the Pacific ocean. So, eating fish and other sea creatures is a rough take.

              Might've been healthy for Okinawan centurions back then but now? Eating pacific cod will probably get you a healthy does of forever chemicals and micro plastics. Lol


              Jokes with some truth aside. Yeah probably grains and sh.it should be a smaller portion of the pyramid.

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              • OctoberRed
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                #8
                Originally posted by F l i c k e r
                Probably not. I think grains probably should be less.

                All the studies of the most healthy people on the world with the longest living people,

                Their diets don't have much breads or grains. Mediterranean and Japanese(Okinawan) diets in particular don't do much grains and bread but do have a lot of vegetables and fish in particular.

                That study probably needs to be changed with the amount of nuclear waste, chemicals etc in the water. Particularly the Pacific ocean. So, eating fish and other sea creatures is a rough take.

                Might've been healthy for Okinawan centurions back then but now? Eating pacific cod will probably get you a healthy does of forever chemicals and micro plastics. Lol


                Jokes with some truth aside. Yeah probably grains and sh.it should be a smaller portion of the pyramid.
                A lot of the longest living people drink wine from what I see

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                • Teetotaler69
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                  #9
                  Hell no. I remember they debunked this a while ago. They even used it as a source to claim doctors or at least pediatricians don't know wtf they're talking about

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                  • OctoberRed
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                    #10
                    Originally posted by Teetotaler69
                    Hell no. I remember they debunked this a while ago. They even used it as a source to claim doctors or at least pediatricians don't know wtf they're talking about
                    I wish I knew that before paying my medical premiums.

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