The Ignorance of the USDA Pyramid

weight loss tip

There are all kinds of holes in the UDA Pyramid. Many recommendations on diet and nutrition are misguided because they’re based on poor information. Let’s look at some of the USDA Pyramid’s faulty statements.

1) All fats are bad. There is no doubt about two kinds of fat being bad. Saturated fat and trans fat both contribute to the artery clogging process that lead to heart disease and stroke. However, the USDA totally ignores the fact that monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that are found in fish and olive oil are good for your heat.

2) All “complex” carbohydrates are good. Carbs form the base of the USDA pyramid and it is suggested that six to eleven servings of bread, cereal, rice, and pasta per day. This advice is too simplistic and overlooks essential research that the type of carbs matter a lot.

3) Protein is protein. You need this type of nutrient every day and can get it from a many sources. However, the USDA pyramid tends to treat all proteins as equal, but the red meat is far different from other sources of protein. Red meat is actually a terrible source of protein because of the saturated fat and cholesterol that come with it. Chicken and turkey provide far less saturated fat. The same can be said for fish. Also, beans and nuts have some great advantages over sources of protein. They give you fiber, vitamins, minerals, and healthy unsaturated fats.

4) Dairy products are essential. The USDA recommends two to three servings of dairy products a day. In recent years, there has been a huge push to address the so-called “calcium emergency” that were threatening the bones of Americans. The fact is that there is any emergency. Americans get more calcium than almost every other country in the world. And even if you need calcium, there’s much better and healthier sources to get it than dairy products. Since whole milk is loaded with saturated fats, better options are one percent or skim milk, spinach, broccoli, and tofu – to name a few.

And finally, the USDA pyramid provides no guidance on four of the things that most all of us know that we need for complete health. It does not even address the importance of controlling your weight, the necessity of regular exercise, the potential benefits of a daily alcoholic drink, and what you can gain by taking a daily multivitamin.

weight loss tip