2008 Woodie Awards
New and Improved Health Pyramid
Abby Berg
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Health
The luck of the Irish was with you last month, but let it carry over into April with your health! Also during March, the nation celebrated National Nutrition Month. By living and breathing true health, try celebrating your nutrition each and everyday! Especially with summer coming and more and more fresh foods coming into season (as well as those skimpy little swimsuits) this is the time to really focus on your nutrition and make sure you are getting everything your body needs, and not much more.
It may be a difficult balancing act, but getting the right calories in the right nutritional areas will transform your life. Proper nutrition is a key factor in living a quality life for a large quantity of years. The Food Guide Pyramid is a good indicator of the standards set to what American's should be eating. Found on this page is the renovated pyramid and it has several changes:
Firstly, the food groups now run up and down instead of sideways. Physical activity was also added as an important aspect of daily life. Although grains are still the largest part of the recommended diet, the US Department of agriculture has reduced the grain amount and added more on to the vegetable section.
Portion sizes continue to change in the American diet as do plate sizes, fast food specials, and appetites. But one thing will stay the same: the number of calories it takes to gain or lose one pound.
3500 calories equal one pound. So if you eat 3500 calories less over a period of time or burn off 3500 calories, you will lose a pound. The same goes for weight gain. However, this does not include water loss during exercise or added weight from a full stomach right after eating.
To avoid gaining the 3500 calories, use the portion sizes found at the bottom of the page to figure out how well you are matching the food guide pyramid. By following the food guide pyramid, your health will skyrocket with good nutrition.
It may be a difficult balancing act, but getting the right calories in the right nutritional areas will transform your life. Proper nutrition is a key factor in living a quality life for a large quantity of years. The Food Guide Pyramid is a good indicator of the standards set to what American's should be eating. Found on this page is the renovated pyramid and it has several changes:
Firstly, the food groups now run up and down instead of sideways. Physical activity was also added as an important aspect of daily life. Although grains are still the largest part of the recommended diet, the US Department of agriculture has reduced the grain amount and added more on to the vegetable section.
Portion sizes continue to change in the American diet as do plate sizes, fast food specials, and appetites. But one thing will stay the same: the number of calories it takes to gain or lose one pound.
3500 calories equal one pound. So if you eat 3500 calories less over a period of time or burn off 3500 calories, you will lose a pound. The same goes for weight gain. However, this does not include water loss during exercise or added weight from a full stomach right after eating.
To avoid gaining the 3500 calories, use the portion sizes found at the bottom of the page to figure out how well you are matching the food guide pyramid. By following the food guide pyramid, your health will skyrocket with good nutrition.
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