The food pyramid

A very effective way to teach something is using visuals, as they are much easier to understand and remember. An example is the food pyramid, which has served for anyone to assimilate different quantities of each type of food you should eat. In the next image we can see the famous pyramid, we continue to find anywhere: books, posters, medical consultations, dietary guidelines ...

It reads from bottom to top. First it tells us that our diet should consist mainly of refined carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice, cereal). Second, vegetable and fruit. After eggs, milk, meat and fish. And finally, at the tip is what we should eat sporadically, fats and sweets.

Where does this pyramid? It was created in 1992 by the USDA, the Department of Agriculture policy, following the guidelines on food groups wearing reporting for nearly a century. It is at least curious that prioritize food precisely the USA produce, grains. Although it is supposed to be reviewed every five years, it has remained virtually unchanged.

What I could not find it on the basis of what criteria design. Guess who created committees would be formed by scientists, nutritionists and / or doctors, but I have not been able to locate information. Anyway, should be based on science and scientific studies related to food. Anyone who reads the newspapers, which often echoes of such studies are done, would occur cuantes questions about this pyramid:

     Where are the foods that provide omega3 acids, apparently very valuable to prevent cardiovascular disease?

     Why not appear vegetable oils high in unsaturated fatty acids, also of great nutritional value?

     It is shown that excess refined carbohydrates causes insulin resistance and hyperinsulinism long term. Should they stay in the bottom of the pyramid? And the potatoes, we eat in industrial quantities, for better or worse where are they?

     Is it OK to put in the same bag all types of meat, poultry, red, processed ...?

Recently, the USDA created MyPyramid, which aims to replace education that best seller, but I think it is complicated. The old pyramid was communicatively successful and too internalized. However this new model is too complex, since it is geared towards customization.

The dietary guidelines now have a different objective. Prior guidance intended to prevent malnutrition, but now what is necessary to combat obesity. Before there was little food, now redundant. And they are very different, as most are processed. So there may be a few useful tips that apply to everyone? Personally I think so. There's a couple of them well known: Eat anything and be frugal. Difficult to follow, but very clear. And a few years ago, the Harvard School of Public Health created the Healthy Eating Pyramid interesting, say that based on the results of recent scientific studies.

This model places at its base exercise (like the USDA), as well as pasta, rice and whole grains, healthy fats (olive, sunflower, soybean, margarines free of trans fats, etc.) and vegetables and fruits. At the next level are nuts, fish, poultry and eggs. And they continue to milk and dairy products. Ends including at its tip which should be eaten only occasionally: Red meat, butter, sweets and sugary drinks and attention ... !, refined carbohydrates rice, pasta, bread and potatoes. Directly opposite the previous pyramid USDA.

I like this model from the Harvard School (click on the image to enlarge it), which also includes the recommendation (not all) of some alcohol occasionally. But it also suggests multivitamins. Are we destined to take pills, after all? And besides pills, are not perfectly represents our valoradísima Mediterranean diet?