Using the Food Pyramid

By Melanie Ullman

Mostly everyone is familiar with the food pyramid which is a triangular guide that details which foods should be consumed from the least to the most based on servings. Well this famous pyramid has been revamped with new guidelines which are aimed at ensuring that people get the proper nutrients without going overboard while eating. This new food pyramid is similar to its predecessor in that it still adopts regulation of certain food groups by serving size. However, the updated pyramid is more tailored to specific groups such as children and pregnant women. Following the current food pyramid will ensure that you are eating the right foods in the correct quantities to ensure a healthier lifestyle and longer life.

The current food pyramid emphasizes eating healthier foods. Most of these healthier foods include fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains. Similar to the previous pyramid, consumption of fats should be at a minimum. What's interesting and great about the new food pyramid is the focus on not only eating healthy but also consuming the recommended calories for a particular sex and age group. Eating lots of healthy food is great but portion control is also important. Making sure to eat the nutritious food that will also provide the necessary amount of calories per day is vital. The food pyramid is seeking to help people avoid the unhealthy trap of "empty" calories. "Empty" calories are obtained from foods such as chips and candy which have no health benefits but still add to or increase a person's daily caloric intake. Learning to add more healthy foods into your diet and being conscious of the type of calories consumed will aid in improving your lifestyle and health.

One of the biggest aims of the updated food pyramid is to encourage weight control and exercise. With the rising obesity rates in the United States it is important to focus on not only eating healthy but maintaining a safe weight through portion control and physical activity. The new guidelines specifically offer detailed caloric intake, diet and exercise recommendations for all groups of people such as children and teens, women-including pregnant women, men, the elderly and people who are obese and need to lose weight to better their health. Using these guidelines as a base for beginning a diet or becoming more knowledgeable about what types of exercise and how much is needed to maintain or sustain a healthy lifestyle is a good idea. As always, it is very important to seek the counsel of a physician before starting any health related activity.

The updated food pyramid is an excellent resource that provides detailed knowledge on how to have a heart-healthy diet through better nutrition and physical activity.

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