The food pyramid introduced in 1992 is a visual representation of the dietary paradigm (model) that has dominated our culture's consciousness for the last two decades. That paradigm tells us that a high carbohydrate/low fat diet is the ideal to which we should aspire to achieve weight loss, good health and peak performance. Even we "health nuts" have bought into this paradigm, for many alternative eating regimes feature meals even higher in carbs (albeit complex ones) and lower in fat than the Standard American Diet (SAD. The evidence is mounting that we've been dead wrong.

America's love affair with the high carbohydrate/low fat diet has ironically resulted in widespread weight gain and an increased incidence of degenerative disease. I first became aware of this when I doing research for Super Nutrition for Men, the book I completed in conjunction with nutritionist, Ann Louise Gittleman several years ago. The bulk of the research reviewed for the book had been done by a then-unheard-of research scientist named Dr. Barry Sears. Dr. Sears has since come out with his own best selling books on the subject written in layman's language.

The bottom line is that our beloved high carbohydrate/low fat diet causes hormonal imbalances by promoting almost continuous insulin response (triggered by eating carbs) and inhibiting glucagon release (triggered by protein consumption). This results in fat storage (getting fat!) and lowering of blood sugar. Insulin/glucagon imbalance caused by consumption of too much carbohydrate in relation to protein, coupled with deficiencies of essential fatty acids due to inadequate intake of healthy fats, results in production of bad eicosanoids. Eicosanoids are obscure, but vitally important hormones that regulate virtually all body systems, especially the cardiovascular system. Food choices determine whether 'good' or 'bad' eicosanoids will be produced.

Theoretically, by decreasing carbohydrate consumption and assuring an adequate intake of good quality, usable protein and natural, unprocessed fats, we can lose weight effortlessly, regulate blood sugar levels and normalize eicosanoid production, favorably affecting all organs and systems in the body. Sears maintains that the ideal ratio of carbohyrates to protein and fat is 40%-30%-30%. Whether following a strict 40/30/30 diet, or simply aiming to reduce the carbohydrate/protein ratio at each meal and selecting good quality unprocessed foods, weight loss, stabilization of blood sugar and improvement of overall health may well result. Balanced eating would appear to be an important key to good health.

The USDA has recently come out with a new interactive food pyramid. Click here to see it: http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/index.html

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