Whose food pyramid is tops?

The much-maligned U.S. government food guide pyramid has lots of competition these days. The pyramid is supposed to serve as a simple presentation of sound nutritional advice. But even the updated pyramid, which was released in 2005 and carries the slogan "steps to a healthy you," has not won much praise, and now there are competing pyramids consumers can choose from.

The latest is the Dr. Weil anti-inflammatory food pyramid. The alternative health guru says his pyramid is based on scientific evidence showing that a specific kind of diet can counteract chronic inflammation that is the cause of many diseases, such as heart disease and cancer. The Weil pyramid has more categories than the traditional pyramid and includes such things as tea (green or white), healthy herbs and spices, cooked Asian mushrooms, whole soy foods and supplements.

Another rival pyramid is the Harvard School of Public Health's healthy-eating pyramid. This pyramid includes exercise as one of its categories for its role in keeping calories in balance. The Harvard pyramid also has a plants category and, like Weil, a supplements category.

The competing pyramids might cause the federal government to wake up and see that its own pyramid is hopelessly outdated and beholden to interest groups. For example, grains and milk are major components of the government pyramid. But, then again, too many pyramids might only serve to confuse people even more. The pyramid was a simple idea that's just not so simple anymore.

-- Shari Roan

Illustration: Chris Sharp / For the Times

Comments

[Lovelyn]

The government pyramid is very outdated. It needs to be changed.

[Integrative Nutrition]

I am a recent graduate from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and also a contributor to their blog. I feel that all three food pyramids mentioned in this post are lacking important factors. Integrative Nutrition has a food pyramid (http://www.integrativenutrition.com/Program/PrimaryFoods.aspx) that incorporates a more holistic approach to nutrition. The organization believes that food is really a secondary source of nourishment.

Through my training at the school, I was taught that "primary food" (relationships, job, family, beliefs, friends, hobbies, etc) has a major impact on your overall well-being and health.

Integrative Nutrition's food pyramid supports and agrees that fruits, vegetables, and water are beneficial to everyone's health, depending on the on the type, quality, and amount. But it also factors in other components that take precedence over food alone. Scientific research supports the idea that stress can cause or exacerbate illness---showing that our mental well-being needs nourishment from doing what we love and surrounding ourselves with supportive relationships just as our physical well-being needs nourishment from high-quality foods that are minimally processed and nutrient-dense.

Some people feel their best being vegetarians while others feel weak and ill without animal protein. Or as stated above, it has to do with quality: You may feel strong and alert after eating a grass-fed, organic lean cut of steak. While another may feel heavy, sluggish, and tired after eating a fatty cut of hormone-laden, low-quality cut of steak.

It depends on the individual and Integrative Nutrition believes in "bio-individuality" and that no single diet works for everyone.

-Michele

[Integrative Nutrition]

http://www.integrativenutrition.com/Program/PrimaryFoods.aspx

This link should work now. My apologies.

Best,
Michele