The traditional food pyramid was revised and updated by the USDA in 2005, and do you know who modified the food pyramid? The USDA paid $2.5 million to a PR/marketing group to help design this new food pyramid, and this group is best known for working for the dairy industry. In fact, historically it’s been about eating more food, drinking more milk, and basically consuming ever greater amounts of whatever the American food industry has produced.
Since the publication of the food pyramid, obesity rates have continued to rise only in the United States. The traditional food pyramid suggests that the “healthy” diet consists of a generous amount of grains in the form of bread, rice and pasta. Then you should eat a healthy amount of vegetables (3 servings) and fruits (2 servings), lean meats, eggs and beans (3 servings), and dairy (3 servings). Eat sparingly, fats, oils and sweets.
This model is extremely misleading to the general American population, since a diet high in grains and carbohydrates is generally not the best way to maintain a lean, healthy mind and body.
myth fat
The biggest mistake many of us make in our diets is that we have eliminated all fat and replaced it with “low-fat” substitutes. We’ve sacrificed many of the “good” fats, like olive oil, butter, avocados, flaxseed, and fish oil, that our bodies and brains need for healthy function and replaced them with “low-fat” processed substitutes.
wheat and gluten
The standard diet is full of wheat and gluten. A typical American diet consists of toast, pancakes, a muffin, a scone for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and pizza and pasta for dinner. Wheat today is not what it was a hundred years ago. What has been genetically engineered to increase its gluten content to 90 percent. In their book Dangerous Grains, James Brady and Ron Hoggan describe gluten as a protein to which the immune system responds pathologically and causes inflammation. Their claim is that gluten destroys healthy tissues through molecular cross-reactions.
Empty Calories
We live in Cockaigne, we have plenty of food and lots of calories, but what we have are foods that are nutrient poor and full of empty calories. If you take corn or wheat from the field and graft it, you’re stripping it of all the good nutrients. You’re left with that empty carb, and it still fits the food pyramid to say, “Eat more grains.”
Food science is big business and many companies have invested millions if not billions of dollars to produce foods that are #1 preservative-packed, meaning they have a longer shelf life so they don’t need to be replaced as often, #2-packed are packed with additives to lure the taste buds and actually produce an addictive quality. Companies are figuring out how to rearrange the molecular structure of food to make you the consumer they want to buy again and again. They pour extra salt, refined sugar, and chemical flavor enhancers into foods to give them an enhanced addictive taste.
We need to stop believing the idea that our government takes good care of us. It’s time to be aware of what you’re putting into your body on a daily basis.
The Caveman Diet
I also recommend going back to the days of the cavemen. When you think about eating something, ask yourself, “Did that come straight from nature?” None of us are perfect, and changes happen slowly over time. Be gentle with yourself and start making small changes in your diet. Do you eat scones and coffee for breakfast? Try eggs and turkey bacon instead. Instead of having a sandwich for lunch, try the salad or let them take the bread off. I still have my moments, but generally I try to be good 80% of the time. Good health is about making good choices but not feeling like you’re depriving yourself. Start where you are and be aware of what you are eating.
Resources:
The Anti-Inflammatory Diet and Recipe Book by Jessica Black
The Honest Food Guide: Honestfoodguide.org
Thanks to Sharon Hwang
