Which Food Pyramid?
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From: Alan S on 2 Feb 2006 19:17 was HbA1c 4.8 On 1 Feb 2006 20:20:10 -0800, "Kurt" <kurtwheeling1965(a)hotmail.com> wrote: >Why are whole grains important? See what the USDA has to say. > >http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/grains_why.html Kurt, I much prefer the Harvard version. http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/pyramids.html or http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/Printer%20Friendly/Food%20Pyramids.pdf Unfortunately, it isn't designed for diabetics either, but at least it isn't funded by vested interests and makes a lot more sense for normal people and provides a base that we can work from to modify with our meters and our experience. You'll be pleased to see that they still recommend whole grains and minimise red meats - but if you examine it closely there are a lot of significant differences. You'll also notice that they qualify whole grains with this: "White Rice, White Bread, Potatoes, White Pasta, Soda, and Sweets (Use Sparingly): Why are these all-American staples at the top, rather than the bottom, of the Healthy Eating Pyramid? They can cause fast and furious increases in blood sugar that can lead to weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic disorders. Whole-grain carbohydrates cause slower, steadier increases in blood sugar that don't overwhelm the body's ability to handle this much needed but potentially dangerous nutrient." You don't see that comment on the USDA MyPyramind. http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/pyramids.html or http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/Printer%20Friendly/Food%20Pyramids.pdf I suggest that all diabetics read the full report and Harvard food pyramid recommendations, but still use their meter to see what works best for them. Here are the opening statements outlining why they saw a need to publish it: "What Should You Really Eat? More than a decade ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture created a powerful and enduring icon - the Food Guide Pyramid. This simple illustration conveyed in a flash what the USDA said were the elements of a healthy diet. The Pyramid was taught in schools, appeared in countless media articles and brochures, and was plastered on cereal boxes and food labels. Tragically, the information embodied in this pyramid didn't point the way to healthy eating. Why not? Its blueprint was based on shaky scientific evidence, and it barely changed over the years to reflect major advances in our understanding of the connection between diet and health. With much fanfare, the USDA recently retired the old Food Guide Pyramid and replaced it with MyPyramid, a new symbol and "interactive food guidance system." The new symbol is basically the old Pyramid turned on its side. The good news is that this dismantles and buries the flawed Pyramid. The bad news is that the new symbol doesn't convey enough information to help you make informed choices about your diet and long-term health. And it continues to recommend foods that aren't essential to good health, and may even be detrimental in the quantities included in MyPyramid." Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. d&e, metformin 2x500mg -- Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
From: Kurt on 2 Feb 2006 21:55 Alan S wrote: > was HbA1c 4.8 > > On 1 Feb 2006 20:20:10 -0800, "Kurt" > <kurtwheeling1965(a)hotmail.com> wrote: > > >Why are whole grains important? See what the USDA has to say. > > > >http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/grains_why.html > > Kurt, I much prefer the Harvard version. > I http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/Printer%20Friendly/Food%20Pyramids.pdf > > Unfortunately, it isn't designed for diabetics either, but > at least it isn't funded by vested interests and makes a lot > more sense for normal people and provides a base that we can > work from to modify with our meters and our experience. > > You'll be pleased to see that they still recommend whole > grains and minimise red meats - but if you examine it > closely there are a lot of significant differences. You'll > also notice that they qualify whole grains with this: > > "White Rice, White Bread, Potatoes, White Pasta, Soda, and > Sweets (Use Sparingly): Why are these all-American staples > at the top, rather than the bottom, of the Healthy Eating > Pyramid? They can cause fast and furious increases in blood > sugar that can lead to weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, > and other chronic disorders. Whole-grain carbohydrates cause > slower, steadier increases in blood sugar that don't > overwhelm the body's ability to handle this much needed but > potentially dangerous nutrient." > > You don't see that comment on the USDA MyPyramind. > > http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/pyramids.html or > http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/Printer%20Friendly/Food%20Pyramids.pdf > > I suggest that all diabetics read the full report and > Harvard food pyramid recommendations, but still use their > meter to see what works best for them. > > Here are the opening statements outlining why they saw a > need to publish it: > > "What Should You Really Eat? > > More than a decade ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture > created a powerful and enduring icon - the Food Guide > Pyramid. This simple illustration conveyed in a flash what > the USDA said were the elements of a healthy diet. The > Pyramid was taught in schools, appeared in countless media > articles and brochures, and was plastered on cereal boxes > and food labels. > > Tragically, the information embodied in this pyramid didn't > point the way to healthy eating. Why not? Its blueprint was > based on shaky scientific evidence, and it barely changed > over the years to reflect major advances in our > understanding of the connection between diet and health. > > With much fanfare, the USDA recently retired the old Food > Guide Pyramid and replaced it with MyPyramid, a new symbol > and "interactive food guidance system." The new symbol is > basically the old Pyramid turned on its side. > > The good news is that this dismantles and buries the flawed > Pyramid. The bad news is that the new symbol doesn't convey > enough information to help you make informed choices about > your diet and long-term health. And it continues to > recommend foods that aren't essential to good health, and > may even be detrimental in the quantities included in > MyPyramid." Yes, the Harvard Pyramid. I am aware of it and actually do think it is an improvement on the original pyramid and even the updated USDA pyramid. It basically supports what I was saying about red meat and whole grains. This statement also emphasizes what I was talking about in another post regarding alternatives to red meat: "It also overlooks mounting evidence that replacing red meat with a combination of fish, poultry, beans, and nuts offers numerous health benefits. I'm also in major agreement with what they have to say about whole grains: "Whole Grain Foods (at most meals). The body needs carbohydrates mainly for energy. The best sources of carbohydrates are whole grains such as oatmeal, whole-wheat bread, and brown rice. They deliver the outer (bran) and inner (germ) layers along with energy-rich starch. The body can't digest whole grains as quickly as it can highly processed carbohydrates such as white flour. This keeps blood sugar and insulin levels from rising, then falling, too quickly. Better control of blood sugar and insulin can keep hunger at bay and may prevent the development of type 2 diabetes." And most importantly, the base of the pyramid is daily exercise and weight control. These two things are key to diabetes management. So, thanks for posting this again, it is closest to my WOE of any of the pyramids. From this point forward I will use this as the link when someone asks me about dietary advice. Since we're discussing pyramids again, I thought I'd post the link to an earlier discussion where I suggested my own personal "Living Pyramid". Hope you don't mind... http://groups.google.com/group/alt.support.diabetes/browse_frm/thread/cfe6aa40bb39ef23/3a5cf488be40eb76?q=kurt+pyramid&rnum=3#3a5cf488be40eb76 Best, Kurt
From: Alan S on 2 Feb 2006 23:18 On 2 Feb 2006 18:55:36 -0800, "Kurt" <kurtwheeling1965(a)hotmail.com> wrote: >Since we're discussing pyramids again, I thought I'd post the link to >an earlier discussion where I suggested my own personal "Living >Pyramid". Hope you don't mind... Hi Kurt I don't mind at all - but I'm stepping out the door (into the pool) so I'll re-read it again later. I can't emphasise enough my opening comments, so I'll repeat them: "Unfortunately, it isn't designed for diabetics either, <snip> I suggest that all diabetics read the full report and Harvard food pyramid recommendations, but still use their meter to see what works best for them." Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. d&e, metformin 2x500mg -- Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
From: Quentin Grady on 2 Feb 2006 23:29 This post not CC'd by email On Fri, 03 Feb 2006 11:17:34 +1100, Alan S <loralweightandcarbs(a)optusnet.com.au> wrote: >Its blueprint was >based on shaky scientific evidence, and it barely changed >over the years to reflect major advances in our >understanding of the connection between diet and health. G'day G'day Alan, It makes more sense to look at people with greater long term success diet wise than the USA. There are many examples of Greek food pyramids listed on the web but one must be careful to deconstruct some of the interpreting that occurs. http://www.nut.uoa.gr/english/GreekGuid.htm#diatr9 http://tinyurl.com/dbs9a http://people.bu.edu/SALGE/pyramid/mediterranean/ Best wishes, -- Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / \ /\ "... and the blind dog was leading." http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
From: Alan S on 3 Feb 2006 07:36
On 2 Feb 2006 18:55:36 -0800, "Kurt" <kurtwheeling1965(a)hotmail.com> wrote: >Since we're discussing pyramids again, I thought I'd post the link to >an earlier discussion where I suggested my own personal "Living >Pyramid". Hope you don't mind... > >http://groups.google.com/group/alt.support.diabetes/browse_frm/thread/cfe6aa40bb39ef23/3a5cf488be40eb76?q=kurt+pyramid&rnum=3#3a5cf488be40eb76 > >Best, >Kurt I've had time to read it now. Thanks Kurt - you should post it more often - why not repeat it now? Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. d&e, metformin 2x500mg -- Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter. |