On June 15th we were handed down the nutritional ruling from on high. Once again a committee of government appointed experts have congregated and discussed the latest science and findings regarding diet and nutrition. Then they threw all that out the window, had a good laugh at public gullibility and maybe had a beer together. Or maybe some whiskey shots. That’s the only explanation that makes any sense to me after reading the 2010 Dietary Guidelines.
Seriously, how can you honestly evaluate the latest research and make these kind of recommendations without being 3 sheets to the wind. Maybe they played a 2010 Dietary Guidelines Drinking Game. Every time they saw the word “fat” they had to take a shot. Yikes… they had to have been wasted before the first page was read.
Insanity is doing the same things and expecting different results. Well, I take that back. The recommendations aren’t exactly the same… they’ve actually gotten worse. So what do those fun-loving partiers say we should do now? This sentence pretty well sums it up:
“Shift food intake patterns to a more plant-based diet that emphasizes vegetables, cooked dry beans and peas, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. In addition, increase the intake of seafood and fat-free and low-fat milk and milk products and consume only moderate amounts of lean meats, poultry, and eggs.”
I know. You all are shocked. Low-fat dogma. Again.
But they don’t stop there. Not only are they continuing with their bullheaded insistence that fat is bad, but they want us to eat even less than was recommend before.
“Limiting saturated fatty acid intake to less than 7 percent of calories, replacing these calories with those from mono- or polyunsaturated fatty acids, rather than carbohydrates. As an interim step toward this less than 7 percent goal, all individuals should immediately consume less than 10 percent of energy as saturated fats.”
So now we are down to 10 percent. And I love how they throw that sense of urgency in there by using the word “immediately”. Do it! Immediately! Or we are all dooooomed! I will give them this, they recommend replacing those saturated fats with other fats, instead of carbohydrates. But I’ll admit after reading that, the following sentence doesn’t make much sense.
“Healthy diets are high in carbohydrates. Accepted Macronutrient Distribution Ranges (AMDR) for carbohydrates are 45 to 65 percent from carbohydrates.”
Alrighty then. So let me get this straight. I should lower my fat intake, but not replace it with carbohydrates. So are they saying I shouldn’t eat? Seeing as how are macronutrient choices are Protein, Fat and Carbohydrates, I’m not sure I’m following. If I can’t replace fat with carbs, then that leaves protein, right? Most protein sources come from meat, which again goes against your whole “plant based diet” suggestion. Me thinks thou doest again drink too much when thou writest thy recommendations. Didst thou also consume White Castle while ingesting said merriment? (One must ponder these things.)
The tired old calories in – calories out theory is tossed around several times throughout these recommendations. I kept waiting for them to recommend exercising at least 8 hours a day. That’s should fix it, right? *snort*
They also believe the real problem lies with us. They have the assumption that the failings of their past recommendations aren’t because the recommendations themselves are faulty, but because we just aren’t following them. Sadly they are wrong. Many people have followed their recommendations to the letter – only to end up sicker, heavier and more discouraged than ever. For many like me, it was when I stopped following this dietary advice that I started on the road to recovery and health.
I will give them this. They did recommend less sugar, but that’s kind of a “duh” moment anyway.
We do have the option of making our voices heard, and now is the time to do so! You can leave a comment here until July 8th, or if you are so inclined, be in Washington, DC on July 8th to give your oral testimony on the matter. According to Jimmy Moore, here’s what you do:
“Call Crystal Tyler at (202) 314-4701 prior to 5 p.m. EDT on June 30, 2010 to be put on the roster to speak that day and plan on being at Jefferson Auditorium in the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., on July 8th from 9am-5pm.”
The above are just some quick thoughts I had on the subject. Due to time constraints I’ll have to stop there. If you’d like to read a more thorough evaluation of the guidelines, please check out these wonderful posts from my fellow bloggers.
Fat-Head: 2010 Dietary Guidelines: Here They Come To Save The Daaaaay!
Fat-Head: 2010 Dietary Guidelines: Same Old $#@%
Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb: 2010 Dietary Guidelines Announced, Still Carb Heavy And Fat-Phobic
Laura Dolson: 2010 Dietary Guidelines, Part One – Make Your Voice Heard
