Food Pyramid Essay

A healthy diet is composed of several groups of foods. The United States government developed the food pyramid in 1992 to suggest nutrition guidelines and intake endorsements for each of the food categories. The foods that we consume on a daily basis fall into food groups. The United States Department of Agriculture recognizes six major food groups. These groups are grains, vegetables, fruits, meat and beans, milk and fats. The foods in these groups all play important roles in nutrition and health. In April 2005, the United States Department of Agriculture released the MyPyramid food guidance system, a restructure of the older food pyramid focused on making healthy food choices and leading an active lifestyle. Any food made from wheat, oats, rice, cornmeal, barely or a cereal grain is considered a grain product. Grains are also known as carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are the body’s primary energy source, which is the reason why grains are so important for our health. Foods such as pasta, oatmeal, cereal, bread and rice are grains. There are two types of grains, whole grains and refined grains. Whole grains are made from the entire grain. They are good sources of fiber, which help to reduce cholesterol levels and decrease the risk of heart disease. Refined grains are processed to remove parts of the grain known as the bran and germ, which strips the grain of most of its fiber and nutrients. Refined grains are then enhanced to add back iron and B vitamins. It is suggested at least half of grains eaten to be whole grains. Imagine there was a medicine that could reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, lower high blood pressure, prevent vision and digestive-system problems, and possibly lower the risk of cancer. There is no real medicine that can do all that, but according to the Harvard School of Public Health, you can get all of those health benefits just by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. Despite their health benefits, only 10 percent of people in the United States consume the correct amount of fruits and vegetables. Those that eat fruits and vegetables are much healthier. The primary reason you should consume enough meat and beans each day is because these foods supply you with a healthy dose of protein. Protein supports healthy growth and development, including the correct formation of muscle and tissue. Eating sufficient amounts of protein is a healthy way to boost your energy so you can be physically active as well. One of the most notable vitamins present in meat and beans is niacin, a B vitamin that helps turn food into energy. Niacin has also been noted to have an increase in good cholesterol. The primary mineral in meat and beans is iron, which you need to produce healthy red blood cells that are able to transport oxygen throughout your body. Beans supply more iron per serving than meat, but both foods are healthy sources of this mineral. Milk has a rich source of calcium and minerals that our body needs to build and maintain strong bones and teeth and assist in the proper contraction of our muscles. It also provides a large amount of vitamins A, B, and D, all of which help proper growth and development. The main reason why milk is so important to the human body is because of how much calcium it carries with it. Fat is frequently criticized as a cause of rising obesity rates and problems associated with extra weight, making many people think they need to avoid fat. In fact, fats are important in your diet for a number of reasons. Fats provide your body with energy and provide storage spots for energy in the body. Because your body can’t make certain essential fatty acids, it relies on your diet to provide them. In conclusion, the primary food groups are very essential to your body in order for it to be healthy. At the looks of it, if humans weren’t consuming any of these food groups on a daily basis, in the long run it would cause a very large number of health problems. The reason why the food Pyramid was created was to show people a healthier life style to live so they can hopefully improve their health and lifespan. In general, eating healthy foods like this makes your body feel much better and you are generally much happier.