Harvard Nutritionist Says food pyramid is wrong

"But the food pyramid is outdated and doesn't reflect the latest food research, says Willett, chairman of the Nutrition Department at Harvard University, in a July 26 feature in USA Today.

Willett claims that his new food pyramid offers a longer, and better, life.

Furthermore, the USDA food pyramid serves the interests of its main client, the U.S. agricultural industry, Willett claims.

In Chapter 1 Willett, a long-time critic of the pyramid, writes, "The thing to keep in mind about the USDA Pyramid is that it comes from the [U.S.] Department of Agriculture, the agency responsible for promoting American agriculture, not from agencies established to monitor and protect our health, like the Department of Health and Human Services, or the National Institutes of Health, or the Institute of Medicine.

"And there's the root of the problem--what's good for some agricultural interests isn't necessarily good for the people who eat their products.

"Serving two masters is tricky business, especially when one of them includes persuasive and well-connected representatives of the formidable meat, dairy, and sugar industries. The end result of their tug-of-war is a set of positive, feel-good, all- inclusive recommendations that completely distort what could be the single most important tool for improving your health and the health of the nation.

"At best, the USDA Pyramid offers indecisive, scientifically unfounded advice on an absolutely vital topic--what to eat. At worst, the misinformation it offers contributes to overweight, poor health, and unnecessary early deaths."

http://rense.com/general12/wrong.htm

Blazer Bob wrote: "At best, the USDA Pyramid offers indecisive, scientifically unfounded advice on an absolutely vital topic--what to eat. At worst, the misinformation it offers contributes to overweight, poor health, and unnecessary early deaths."

http://rense.com/general12/wrong.htm

I agree....I have never thought the food pyramid was worth the time and money spent on it....nor is it of much use for the public. I seriously doubt that a lot of people use it to plan their daily meals.

I used to "ohhhh" and "ahhhhhh" a lot when a SCHOLAR from HARVARD would declare something ---- but am moving away from that tendency, as I grow older.

Problem 1: There really is no ideal diet for all human beings. There's remarkable diversity - even amongst the single species -- about what works best.

Problem 2: Huhvud professors are elite, but not necessarily superior. I just assume listen to someone from UC-Denver - and even then --- I'm not sure they're "superior" to the 70 year old lady down the road who drinks a glass of whisky each evening.

I'm going to stick with my Doc's advice, move more eat less and when you eat make it green and leafy. He doesn't need to know about the occasional steak, bacon cheese burger, or rack of ribs that I might consume. Me and the Wudermutt make a couple of extra laps around the forest to compensate unless there is wood that needs splitting by hand.