Then Harvard devised a complex, thorough diet evaluation index similar to MyPyramid’s index. They compared the diets of 100,000 health professionals to those indices in two long-term studies. The men and women whose diets most closely followed the USDA index reduced their overall risk of major disease by 11% and 3%, respectively, compared to those whose diets least resembled the USDA index. Similar comparisons with Harvard’s index yielded disease reductions of 20% and 11%, respectively . . . nearly twice and four times as good as with the USDA index. Specifically in cardiovascular disease, men and women whose diet most closely matched Harvard’s diet lowered their risk by almost 40% and 30% compared to those whose diets strayed the farthest from the Harvard diet index.
I don’t know the details of that study – some studies fall apart upon close expert inspection -- but it certainly seems to speak well of Harvard’s approach, and their nutrition website is exceptional, so it’s safe to rely on it along with much of MyPyramid. I’m not alone in favoring Harvard’s pyramid as being less influenced by the agribusiness lobby, though. Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition and food studies at New York University, says MyPyramid “is a complete pandering to the food industry and does not help consumers who are enormously confused about what to eat”. I consider that to be overstated, as discussed above with Harvard’s complaints, but not out of the park. The CSPI, which we so often quote here, praises this strong new issue of Guidelines, but faults MyPyramid’s incarnation as overly complicated and lax in naming any foods we should eat less of.
On that note comes my biggest gripe about MyPyramid: it allows, even encourages, us to substitute junk food for healthy food within the calorie limits of a dang chart for our age and activity level. Once – and presuming -- we meet this chart’s nutrition and energy needs on low-calorie foods, it says, we may make up that “discretionary calorie” difference with such garbage as sausage, fried chicken skin, Twinkies, and butter. This discards MyPyramid’s earlier warnings against the threats of trans fats, sat fats, and additives known to promote cardiovascular disease and suspected in many other diseases. This could give some people the excuse they seek to live on Big Macs topped with celery.
“I wasn’t aware the undertaker’s lobby was that powerful”, he says, tongue only partly in cheek.
Obviously MyPyramid isn’t perfect, but it beats most of the fad diets. Using it beats not using some hypothetical “best” site. Check the pyramids out, pick a favorite (I prefer Harvard’s) or combine them, and help yourself and your family live longer, healthier, happier, more vigorous lives. Most important, realize that healthy eating can -- should -- be jam-packed with flavor and variety. MyPyramid lists so many foods that rather than limiting your eating, it expands it. But, please, if you’re still lean but hungry, eat more fruit, veggies, and whole grains, not butter and ice cream. Save the junk food for rare, small treats.
Don’t overlook the extensive, very impressive kids’ health website … well worth featuring here soon. Kids and parents will find an excellent MyPyramid discussion at that site by clicking on this path: KidsHealth > Kids > Staying Healthy > Fabulous Food > The New Food Guide Pyramid, and KidsHealth goes way beyond that at a level middle school kids can appreciate.
