Potatoes are bad for heart health, according to recent research.
The United States Department of Agriculture released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010, a little bit late–on January 31, 2011. And according to the Harvard School of Public Health, the recommendations are behind the times as well. The new USDA guidelines emphasize a diet rich in plants and fish, and replacing some of the high-fat protein like red meat with plant-based proteins like legumes. But the pyramid still allows low-fat dairy products, and up to half of carbohydrate intake can include refined grains like white flour. Even potatoes raise the level of blood sugar more quickly than whole grains.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz published a detailed analysis of the debate between the Harvard School of Public Health and the USDA, which is accused of having too strong a connection with the American dairy and beef industries. The article pointed out that Israel’s own food pyramid still shows pita, made with refined flour. Updated in 2008 but ignoring 2008 USDA updates, it gives equal nutritional weight to meat and legumes. Soda and candy appear at the top of the Israeli pyramid, as a food recommended in small quantities.
Harvard’s version of the food pyramid, pictured below, focuses on exercise, weight control, healthy fats and whole grains. The Healthy Eating Pyramid is more environmentally friendly, recommending avoiding processed foods and limiting the amount of meat, dairy and egg products. The cattle and poultry industry introduce large amounts of amounts of antibiotics and hormones in the environment. Meat and dairy products are less efficient as a food source than vegetables, although animal manure is important for agriculture.
More Green Posts on Diet:
Saudi Blogger Gets Death Threats for Quitting Vegan Diet
Meat Prices Going Up? Tips for Switching to a Vegetable-Based Diet
:: Harvard Nutrition Source
Author: Hannah Katsman
Hannah learned environmentalism from her mother, a conservationist before it was in style. Once a burglar tried to enter their home in Cincinnati after noticing the darkened windows (covered with blankets for insulation) and the snow-covered car in the driveway. Mom always set the thermostat for 62 degrees Fahrenheit (17 Celsius) — 3 degrees lower than recommended by President Nixon — because “the thermostat is in the dining room, but the stove’s pilot light keeps the kitchen warmer.” Her mother would still have preferred today’s gas-saving pilotless stoves. Hannah studied English in college and education in graduate school, and arrived in Petach Tikva in 1990 with her husband and oldest child. Her mother died suddenly six weeks after Hannah arrived and six weeks before the first Gulf War, and Hannah stayed anyway. She has taught English but her passion is parental education and support, especially breastfeeding. She recently began a new blog about energy- and time-efficient meal preparation called CookingManager.Com. You can find her thoughts on parenting, breastfeeding, Israeli living and women in Judaism at A Mother in Israel. Hannah can be reached at hannahk (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
