Food pyramid (nutrition)

Afood pyramidis a representation of the optimal number ofservingsto be eaten each day from each of the basicfood groups.The first pyramid was published in Sweden in 1974.The 1992 pyramid introduced by theUnited States Department of Agriculture(USDA) was called the "Food Guide Pyramid" or "Eating Right Pyramid". It was updated in 2005 to "MyPyramid", and then it was replaced by "MyPlate" in 2011.
Amid highfood pricesin 1972,Sweden'sNational Board of Health and Welfaredeveloped the idea of "basic foods" that were both cheap and nutritious, and "supplemental foods" that added nutrition missing from the basic foods.Anna-Britt Agnsäter, chief of thetest kitchenforKooperativa Förbundet(a cooperative Swedish retail chain), held a lecture the next year on how to illustrate these food groups. Attendee Fjalar Clemes suggested a triangle displaying basic foods at the base. Agnsäter developed the idea into the first food pyramid, which was introduced to the public in 1974 in KF'sVimagazine.The pyramid was divided into basic foods at the base, includingmilk,cheese,margarine,bread,cerealsandpotato; a large section of supplemental vegetables and fruit; and an apex of supplementalmeat,fishandegg. The pyramid competed with the National Board's "dietary circle", which KF saw as problematic for resembling a cake divided into seven slices, and for not indicating how much of each food should be eaten. While the Board distanced itself from the pyramid, KF continued to promote it.
Food pyramids were developed in otherScandinaviancountries, as well asWest Germany,JapanandSri Lanka. The United States later developed its first food pyramid in 1992.
TheWorld Health Organization, in conjunction with the Food and Agriculture Organization, published guidelines that can be effectively represented in a food pyramid relating to objectives in order to prevent obesity, improper nutrition, chronic diseases and dental caries based on meta-analysisthough they represent it as a table rather than as a "pyramid". The structure is similar in some respects to the USDA food pyramid, but there are clear distinctions between types of fats, and a more dramatic distinction where carbohydrates are categorized on the basis offree sugarsversus sugars in their natural form. Some food substances are singled out due to the impact on the target issues that the "pyramid" is meant to address. In a later revision, however, some recommendations are omitted as they automatically follow other recommendations while other sub-categories are added. The reports quoted here explain that where there is no stated lower limit in the table below, there isnorequirement for that nutrient in the diet.
All percentages arepercentages ofcalories, not of weight or volume. To understand why, consider the determination of an amount of "10% free sugar" to include in a day's worth of calories. For the same amount of calories, free sugars take up less volume and weight, being refined and extractedfrom the competing carbohydrates in their natural form. In a similar manner, all the items are in competition for various categories of calories.
The representation as a pyramid is not precise, and involves variations due to the alternative percentages of different elements, but the main sections can be represented.
The USDA food pyramid was created in 1992 and divided into six horizontal sections containing depictions of foods from each section's food group. It was updated in 2005 with black and white vertical wedges replacing the horizontal sections and renamedMyPyramid. MyPyramid was often displayed with the food images absent, creating a more abstract design.
In an effort to restructure food nutrition guidelines, the USDA rolled out its newMyPlateprogram in June 2011. My Plate is divided into four slightly different sized quadrants, with fruits and vegetables taking up half the space, and grains and protein making up the other half. The vegetables and grains portions are the largest of the four.
A modified food pyramid was proposed in 1999 for adults aged over 70.
Avegetableis a part of a plant consumed by humans that is generally savory but is not sweet. A vegetable is not considered a grain, fruit,nut,spice, orherb. For example, thestem,root,flower, etc., may be eaten as vegetables. Vegetables contain manyvitaminsandminerals; however, different vegetables contain different balances of micronutrients, so it is important to eat a wide variety of types. For example, orange and dark green vegetables typically containvitamin A, dark green vegetables containvitamin C, and vegetables like broccoli and related plants containironandcalcium. Vegetables are very low infatsandcalories, but ingredients added in preparation can often add them.
These foods provide complexcarbohydrates, which are the body's primary source of energy and provide quality nutrition in any case. Examples includecorn,wheat,pasta, andrice. Grains, when digested, break down into glucose, the body's preferred energy source. Complex carbohydrates also providedietary fiber, which supports digestive health and lowers the risk of heart disease.
In terms of food (rather than botany),fruitsare the sweet-tastingseed-bearing parts of plants, or occasionally sweet parts of plants which do not bear seeds.
These includeapples,oranges,grapes,bananas, etc. Fruits are low in calories and fat and are a source of naturalsugars,fiberand vitamins. Processing fruit whencanningor making intojuicesmay add sugars and remove nutrients. The fruit food group is sometimes combined with the vegetable food group. Note that a massive number of different plant species produce seed pods which are considered fruits in botany, and there are a number of botanical fruits which are conventionallynotconsidered fruits incuisinebecause they lack the characteristic sweet taste, e.g.,tomatoesoravocados.
Dairy productsare produced from themilkof [animals]]s, usually but not exclusivelycattle. They include milk,yogurtandcheese. Milk and its derivative products are a rich source of dietary calcium and also provide protein,phosphorus, vitamin A, andvitamin D. However, many dairy products are high in saturated fat and cholesterol compared to vegetables, fruits and whole grains, which is why skimmed products are available as an alternative.
Historically, adults were recommended to consume three cups of dairy products per day.More recently, evidence is mounting that dairy products have greater levels of negative effects on health than previously thought and confer fewer benefits. For example, recent research has shown that dairy products are not related to stronger bones or less fractures; on the contrary, another study showed that milk (and yogurt) consumption results in higher bone mineral density in the hip. Overall, the majority of research suggests that dairy has some beneficial effects on bone health, in part because of milk's other nutrients.
Meatis thetissue—usuallymuscle—of ananimalconsumed by humans. Since most parts of many animals are edible, there is a vast variety of meats. Meat is a major source ofprotein, as well as iron,zinc, andvitamin B12. The category of meats, poultry, and fish includebeef,chicken,pork,salmon,tuna,shrimp, andeggs.
The meat group is one of the major compacted food groups in the food guide pyramid. Since many of the same nutrients found in meat can also be found in foods like eggs, drybeans, andnuts, such foods are typically placed in the same category as meats, asmeat alternatives. These includetofu, products that resemble meat orfishbut are made withsoy, eggs, andcheeses. For those who do not consume meat or animal products (seeVegetarianism,veganismandTaboo food and drink),meat analogs,tofu, beans, lentils, chickpeas, nuts and other high-protein vegetables are also included in this group. The food guide pyramid suggests that adults eat 2–3 servings per day. One serving of meat is 4 oz (110 g), about the size of a deck of cards.
A food pyramid's tip is the smallest part, so the fats and sweets in the top of the Food Pyramid should comprise the smallest percentage of the diet. The foods at the top of the food pyramid should be eaten sparingly because they provide calories, but not much in the way of nutrition. These foods include salad dressings, oils, cream, butter, margarine, sugars, soft drinks, candies, and sweet desserts. On the 1992–2005 pyramid, the fat circle and sugar triangle are scattered throughout the pyramid to represent the naturally-occurring fats and sugars in various foods. The idea of this is to reduce the temptation to eat so much junk food and excessive fats and sugars, as there is already enough fat and sugar in the rest of the diet. For example, the triangles in the Fruit Group represent the fact that sugar is inevitable in that group.
Certain dietary choices that have been linked to heart disease, such as an 8 oz (230 g) serving of hamburger daily, were technically permitted under the pyramid. The pyramid also lacked differentiation within the protein-rich group ("Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs, and Nuts").The development of the US food pyramid has been influenced by food lobbyists undermining its credibility.
In April 1991, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) halted publication of its Eating Right Pyramid, due to objections raised by meat and dairy lobbying groups concerning the guide’s display of their products. Despite the USDA’s explanations that the guide required further research and testing, it was not until one year later—after its content was supported by additional research—that the Eating Right Pyramid was officially released. This time, even the guide’s graphic design was altered to appease industry concerns. This incident was only one of many in which the food industry attempted to alter federal dietary recommendations in their own economic self-interest.
Some of the recommended quantities for the different types of food in the old pyramid have also come under criticism for lack of clarity. For instance, the pyramid recommends two to three servings from the protein-rich group, but this is intended to be a maximum. The pyramid recommends two to four fruit servings, but this is intended to be the minimum.
The fats group as a whole have been put at the tip of the pyramid, under the direction to eat as little as possible, which some people have considered problematic. The guide instructs people to limit fat intake as much as possible, which can cause health problems because fat is essential to overall health.Research suggests thatunsaturated fatsaid in weight loss, reduce heart disease risk,lower blood sugar, and even lower cholesterol.Also, they are very long sustaining, and help keep blood sugar at a steady level.On top of that, these fats help brain function as well.
Several researchers have said that food and agricultural associations exert undue political power on the USDA.Food industries, such as milk companies, have been accused of influencing the United States Department of Agriculture into making the colored spots on the newly created food pyramid larger for their particular product. The milk section has been described as the easiest to see out of the six sections of the pyramid, making individuals believe that more milk should be consumed on a daily basis compared to the others.Furthermore, the inclusion of milk as a group unto itself implies that is an essential part of a healthy diet, despite the many people who are lactose intolerant or choose to abstain from dairy, and a number of cultures that have historically consumed little if any dairy products.Joel Fuhrmansays in his bookEat to Livethat U.S. taxpayers must contribute $20 billion onprice supportsto artificially reduce the price of cattle feed to benefit the dairy, beef and veal industries, and then pay the medical bills for an overweight population.He asks if the USDA is under the influence of thefood industry, because a food pyramid based on science would have vegetables at its foundation.
These controversies prompted the creation of pyramids for specific audiences, including aVegetarian Diet Pyramid.
The successor to the Food Pyramid calledMyPlatehas also received numerous criticisms, but unlike the Food Pyramid, which was very well known, the MyPlate program has yet to become publicly well known, with as many as "3 out of 4 Americans [having] no idea what the government's MyPlate dietary guide [even] is."
MyPlateis the current nutrition guide published by the United States Department of Agriculture, depicting a place setting with a plate and glass divided into five food groups. It replaced the USDA'sMyPyramidguide on June 2, 2011, concluding 19 years of USDA food pyramid diagrams.