USDA Food Pyramid

While doing some research the other day I came upon the new USDA Food Pyramid site. You can get there by going to http://www.mypyramid.gov/ Although I don't agree with everything found there, it will allow you to put in your gender, weight and height to receive a personal food pyramid. The pyramid is designed to tell you how much grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, meat and beans, oils, discretionary calories and, the new component, physical exercise you need.

It is always good to have a diversified, balanced diet with the right caloric intake. And, exercise is a main component to fitness. However I'm not sure about the milk and discretionary calorie categories. Milk can cause mucous problems and is usually found in it's pasturized form in the local stores. We discussed the problems with pasturization and how the process kills vital and necessary enzymes. There is also a sizable part of the population that is lactose intolorant in various degrees which can cause all sorts of allergic reactions.

And what about "discretionary calories"? Are they "discretionary" or "empty"? White flour, sugar and the like are not discretionary! They are detrimental to the health functioning of our bodies. Processed foods and preservatives are also in the same category. As stated in a previous article they also cause our taste buds to crave more of the same! Added salt and sugar cause the need for more added salt and sugar and can be traced to the increasing amount of people with high blood pressure and diabetes.

Other than these two areas the pyramid also does not address the need for the food we eat to be as organic as possible with the least amount of preservatives. I am not a hard core believer in "none of this or none of that" but if we are not careful our compromise can digress back into an unhealthy diet made up of over-processed, over-cooked, genetically altered foods that cause fatigue, depression and illness!

So stop by the government's site but (excuse the pun) read it with a dose of salt!

Remember, garbage in garbage out! Life in Life out! You are what you eat as far as your body is concerned!

May God give you wisdom and grace to become and remain healthy! 3 John 2 says, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."