New Food Pyramids
Nutrition Australia’s New Food Pyramid
It’s certainly taken it’s time in coming out, however nutrition Australia has decided to be bold and recognise what has become more and more evident about the flaws in the old food chain for a number years.
It’s a step in the right direction, and a great start for those who have never investigated following a healthier diet, although it feels to me they are still being super cautious in the fear they will piss off the members of the “club” (the AMA, big pharmacy, government etc), upon whom they are dependent for work and recognition.
Personally, I prefer an approach with far more vegetables and far less grain – similar to below.
The Paleo Food Pyramid
I included two versions of this that really resonate with me. I included the second one as well as I love the bottom line; “unlimited vegetables”.
This approach follows on from anthropological and genetic research that suggests we have evolved as a culture far more quickly than evolution can keep pace with. And therefore, we eat many foods that our bodies have not yet fully adapted to. The main culprits being chemicals in foods; and carbohydrates such as grain (especially refined or white grains), sugar, added sugar, processed foods; stimulants and many saturated and all trans fats.
One such piece of research suggests it takes at least 40,000 to 100,000 years for a change in the food chain to be assimilated by our bodies (genetically). And agriculture, or farming (which includes grain), has only been in existence for 2,000 to 10,000 years.
From this, you don’t have to be a genius to figure out that it would appear far more beneficial to source your carbohydrates from nutrient rich, fibre rich sources such as vegetables, fruits and nuts and seeds rather than starchy sources such as grains etc.
To emphasise this, I have included one of my favourite all time quotes from one of my favourite all time books:
“We didn’t evolve to be healthy, but instead we were selected to have as many offspring as possible under diverse, challenging conditions. As a consequence, we never evolved to make rational choices about what to eat or how to exercise in conditions of abundance or comfort. What’s more, interactions between the bodies we inherited, the environment we create, and the decisions we sometimes make have set in motion an insidious feedback loop. We get sick from chronic diseases by doing what we evolved to do but under conditions for which our bodies are poorly adapted, and we then pass on those same conditions to our children, who also then get sick. If we wish to halt this vicious circle then we need to figure out how to respectfully and sensibly nudge, push and sometimes oblige ourselves to eat foods that promote health and to be more physically active. That too, is what we evolved to do.”
Daniel Lieberman, ‘The Story of the Human Body. Evolution, Health & Disease.’
Dr Lieberman further suggests that it is the mismatch between the bodies we have inherited (from our hunter gatherer ancestors) and the culture (or world) we have created that accounts for the fact that 90% of deaths in the developed world are a result of chronic, lifestyle preventable, diseases.
I couldn’t agree more and it applicable in all areas of living that influence our health – how we eat and drink, move and stabilise, breathe, rest and rejuvenate, think and, most centrally, how we process or internalise stress (or not).
I thrive on this approach personally, and clinic results with this approach certainly verify that this preference is well founded. When followed properly, it works beautifully.
AND research on it’s efficacy is really, really starting to mount up.
To dispel one misunderstanding of this approach right from the beginning – I have never interpreted the hunter-gatherer or Paleo approach as a high protein diet. It is more like a high vegetable diet with a small-medium amount of protein regularly.
ALSO I believe that in order to stay sane and relaxed in the world we live in, it is wise to add 2-3 freedom meals or snacks per week whilst following this approach. A freedom meal being whatever you want – although you will find over time that freedom meals become cleaner and cleaner. The desire for junk dissipates significantly.
Trying to follow this approach 100% at all times can make one quite rigid and intense. And stressed.
It does take preparation to implement this program even with the freedom meals, but it’s worth it.
If you’re ever in doubt, ask yourself the question: “Would I have eaten this if I were wandering the bush 40,000 years ago?”
If you are interested in improving your nutrition, contact me and I will go over your current nutritional plan and make specific and individual suggestions, including meal examples, to suit your needs – be they:
- Athletic performance
- Increased energy levels
- Super health and wellness
- Regulating blood sugar levels
- Reducing inflammation
- Eliminating illness
- Fat loss
- Muscle gain
- Detoxification – including fasting.