Re: Building Blocks

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/29/2004 1:19:36 AM Mountain Standard Time,

dhn@... writes:

>

> January 29, 2004

>

>

> BUILDING BLOCKS

>

> How on earth are we to know what's right to eat? Carbohydrates are good...

> carbohydrates are bad. Protein is good... protein is bad. Fats are good...

> fats are bad. The only thing that everyone agrees on is that fruits and

> vegetables are good -- though there is controversy arising here, too, with

regard to

> organic versus commercially grown products.

>

> In an effort to clear up the confusion, the USDA is in the process of

> updating its " Food Pyramid " of recommended dietary intake. Its work is the

result

> of several years of research based on the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI)

> standards issued by the National Academy of Science Institute of Medicine, and

> the Dietary Guidelines, published by the Department of Health and Human

> Services and the USDA. (The DRI replaces the Decommended Dietary Allowances --

RDA

> -- of old.) Additionally, the USDA asked for input from the professional

> community and consumers to learn how they understand and use the pyramid.

>

> The proposed changes to the pyramid are far from final. I spoke to three

> experts about the pyramid and received strong and varied opinions.

>

> RUTH KAVA, PHD, RD: LIKES PORTION CONTROL

>

> I first spoke with Ruth Kava, PhD, RD, director of nutrition at the American

> Council on Science and Health. Dr. Kava says that she always has liked the

> Food Pyramid because it gives an instant picture for the servings of foods

> people should have. However, she also points out that it has limitations --

> nutrition has more complexities than a simple pyramid can convey.

>

> One of the biggest differences between the new pyramid and the old one, she

> explains, is that the new one will consider appropriate caloric levels.

> Because obesity is rampant in this country, the USDA is trying to establish

not

> only the foods people should eat but also reasonable quantities. Since it will

> be impossible to easily show calories for all lifestyles, the pyramid's

> recommendations will be oriented toward people who are more sedentary. In

> addition, the USDA is doing a thorough analysis of nutrient profiles, which,

she

> says, looks pretty good. You can read about the proposed changes -- as well as

> public comments on the proposal -- at www.usda.gov/cnpp/pyramid-update/.

>

> WALTER WILLET, MD, DPH: TOO MANY CARBS

>

> One of the most outspoken critics of the Food Pyramid has been Walter

> Willett, MD, DPH, who is chairman of nutrition at Harvard School of Public

Health

> and author of Eat, Drink and Be Healthy. In published interviews and articles

> he has written, Dr. Willett has criticized the old Food Pyramid's lack of fat

> -- which he says in part led to the fat-free food frenzy of the early 1990s

> -- and the amount of carbohydrates it recommends. He says that some fat --

> notably from plant oils -- is essential in any diet. He also argues against

the

> refined carbohydrates at the base of the pyramid -- bread, cereal, rice and

> pasta -- because they break down quickly into glucose, which stimulates a

> large release of insulin. He also is against the pyramid's placement of white

> potatoes in the vegetable division. White potatoes, a starch, also are rapidly

> metabolized to glucose. His research shows that a high intake of starch,

> whether from refined grains or potatoes, is associated with higher risk for

type

> 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease.

>

> Consequently, Dr. Willett has been quoted as saying that he would like to

> replace the " bread, cereal, rice and pasta " group at the base of the pyramid

> with whole-grain foods and plant oils. Fats now are at the very top of the

> pyramid " to be used sparingly. " That is where he believes the white rice,

white

> bread, potatoes and pasta should be.

>

> Dr. Willett also feels that the USDA should not even be the group designing

> the pyramid because of its mandate to protect agriculture in this country. He

> says that this predisposes the department to underscore beef and dairy too

> much in its recommendations.

>

> RON SCHMID, ND: MORE ANIMAL PROTEINS

>

> I spoke with Ron Schmid, ND, of the Alternative Medicine Center of

> Connecticut in Watertown. Dr. Schmid feels that the pyramid is " not about

health, but

> about politics and money. " He, too, would invert the current pyramid given

> the opportunity, but in a slightly different way. The foundation he would like

> to see would contain dairy products, meats, poultry, fish and eggs -- but

> with a critical caveat. These must all be from healthy animals raised on

family,

> not corporate, farms. He would place fruits, vegetables and whole grains

> above the animal products and at the top place the occasional treat, be it ice

> cream or a glass of wine.

>

> While a valiant -- and no doubt expensive -- effort on the part of the

> government, it appears that the new Food Pyramid will be no panacea for

resolving

> the dietary debate.

>

> What should you do? Work with a professional specially trained in individual

> dietary management to determine what works best for you. An RD -- a formally

> trained nutritionist with an accredited MS or PhD -- working under a

> naturopathic physician (ND) is the best scenario. In the meanwhile, focus on

whole

> grains, fresh ripe fruits, vegetables and legumes, and hormone-free meats and

> dairy products. As for all those delicious sweet treats, enjoy them for what

> they are -- " treats, " not dietary staples.

>

>

>