Its recommendations for daily servings in the basic food groups are clear, concise and easy to understand. I'm Phyllis Woodson, a dietitian with the Strelitz Diabetes Institutes and division of maternal-fetal medicine of Eastern Virginia Medical School.
Recent books advocating a low carbohydrate intake challenge the pyramid's advice for healthy eating.
Excess carbohydrates may cause weight gain, and elevated blood glucose, triglyceride, and insulin levels. Triglycerides indicate fat content of the blood. When the body becomes resistant to its own insulin secretion from the pancreas, usually due to weight gain, the resulting excess insulin may increase plaque build-up in the blood vessels and also increase the risk for diabetes or make existing diabetes more difficult to control. Actually, by using the Food Guide Pyramid and the recommended size portions, one can still lose weight and control blood glucose, triglyceride, and insulin levels. The problem is that most of us have lost all sense of what constitutes a portion size.