New Food Pyramid

Food Pyramid

Better food habits can help you be healthier. The American Heart Association recommends that you eat a wide variety of foods daily from all of the basic food groups.

New foodpyramid is designed to help people make healthy food choices. In response to rising obesity rates, the U.S. Department of Agriculture introduced on April 19, 2005 a revised new food pyramid.

New food pyramid, which replaces the old pyramid introduced in 1992, encourages consumers to choose foods geared to their specific calorie needs and adds a new category: regular exercise. The updated symbol includes a picture of a stick figure walking up a set of steps to emphasize physical activity.

Food groups are arranged vertically, instead of horizontally like the older model, and are represented by six different colors:

1. Orange - grains

2. Green - vegetables

3. Red - fruits

4. Yellow - oils

5. Blue - milk products

6. Purple - meats and beans

Foods from each group should be eaten daily. The wider the food group band, the more of that product you should eat, although the widths are a general guide to portion size, not an exact recommendation.

Unlike the old pyramid, which presented its recommendations in servings, the new food pyramid uses terms such as cups and ounces. The guidelines suggest that an average person should eat three ounces of whole-grain products, two cups of fruit, and two-and-a-half cups of vegetables every day. Oils should be used sparingly.

Conclusion

Compare the old and new food pyramid

The old pyramid outlined the portions Americans should eat, from the most at the base (grains) to the least at the apex (fats, oils and sugars). It was criticized as being broad and vague; it recommended, for instance, that people eat 6 to 12 servings of grains, without explaining who should eat 6 servings versus 12, and without identifying a serving size.

This time, the new food pyramid is a series of vertical color bands of varying widths. The bands of fruits and vegetables combined take up the most space, followed by grains, with the narrowest bands still belonging to fats, oils and sugars. Also new is the stick figure walking up the left side of the pyramid to match the guide's slogan: "Steps to a healthier you."

New foodpyramid is about the ability of people to personalize their approach when choosing a healthier lifestyle that balances nutrition and exercise. Many Americans can dramatically improve their overall health by making modest improvements to their diets and by incorporating regular physical activity into their daily lives.

You are what you eat. Better food habits can help you reduce your risk for heart attack and more other diseases. A healthful eating plan means choosing the right foods to eat and preparing foods in a healthy way.

Karel Micek is skin care and healthy lifestyle enthusiast and recommends to read What Vitamins Do Women Need for more information. Find the best vitamins for women here:

http://besthealthfoodsforall.blogspot.com/

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