Harvard Doesn’t Like Uncle Sam’s Food Pyramid, Either
This is one beautiful rant about the FDA’s crap-tastic excuse for a food pyramid from Mark’s Daily Apple. You see, the FDA does the best they can, but it’s so hard to be smart and efficient about your lot in life when your job is to spend other people’s money. Especially while special interest groups line your pockets. But I digress…
If the FDA has ever left you a little limp, you’ll find the article below a worthwhile read.
Harvard has released an alternative food pyramid and nutrition guide. It’s a really great way to spend 16 bucks because, although the US pyramid is both free and pretty, the Harvard version flat-out rocks. Harvard oh-so-politely counters the so-called “balanced diet” approach as being totally meaningless (which it is). Seriously, are things like “try to eat more whole grains” and “avoid fat” the best recommendations our government can come up with? Evidently so. (Although the FDA does have that nifty new Labelman [link- Ed] tutorial online to help you understand nutrition labels and feel like a five-year-old simultaneously.)
Instead, with the Harvard guide, specific foods are recommended. How cool is that? Things like good fats (because they lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol), veggies rich in antioxidants (because they may prevent cancer and they fight inflammation and stress), and lots of lean protein. Yum!
In fact, Harvard makes a very convincing case that a high-protein diet is not only safe for the cardiovascular-concerned crowd, but that sensible high-protein diets (no baconfests, people) are actually better for the heart than bran muffins and bread machines. Which is what Mark has been espousing all along - pretty interesting stuff!
We really recommend purchasing the guide if you can. Kudos to Harvard for having the gumption to address real nutrition with real science and real recommendations. Although, colorful stripes are fun. We’re very impressed with the FDA for staying inside the lines so well.
Nicely put, Mark.
Harvard Pyramid
Original Article - Mark’s Daily Apple
3 opinions for Harvard Doesn’t Like Uncle Sam’s Food Pyramid, Either
Beck
Jan 4, 2007 at 11:01 am
Okay, so I think it’s great that the research has been done and that this report has been generated by why in the sam hill are they charging money for it? That’s !@#$% ridiculous.
Isn’t bad enough that healthy food costs more than unhealthy food in the first place? Jeezum crow.
Wade
Jan 4, 2007 at 11:21 am
Jeezum crow, indeed.
It would be able to help a lot more people were it free. But it probably cost something to produce in the first place. And since Harvard is so cheap to attend, they’ve got to make $ somewhere, right? Right?
Beck
Jan 4, 2007 at 11:49 am
Wade, that is their only saving grace. :)
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