The American Food Guide states that dairy is only suggested, as per this article written in 2011. I only just recently read up on this new information, which to me, is actually news. I've been in Colombia for just over a year and missed out on this interesting fact. Although you may all be familiar with this information already, I will guide you through the details that surprise me and that make me smile.
First, this is done with Michelle Obama's collaboration. I was already aware of the program she had started to get kids of the couch - especially those that watch too much TV and/or play for hours on end on their gameboxes - in order to decrease, or at least stop the increase, in weight gain amongst Americans. I recall her stating in an interview with Ellen that this was because most people understand the role of exercise for our health, but she was still a little hesitant to speak of how much our eating habits affect us. Well, the new plate format of the American Food Guide shows that she has chosen to take that step. And I command her for it.
For both the American and the Canadian Food Guides, the trend is now to put fruits and vegetables first, as the most important food group to consume. For the longest time, grains were first and although they are fairly important, they are not as important as veggies. Fruits are needed, but the Canadian Food Guide still doesn't make a strong enough emphasis on the fact that raw vegetables contain less sugar and more of the needed vitamins and minerals to keep us healthy.
The plate design makes the understanding of this principle incredibly simple. Not everyone learns the same way, and although this may overly-simplify the complexity of how to eat healthy, it makes it easier to see what it is our plates should be containing, which far too many people failed to understand - or just wouldn't take the time to learn - through the previous format.
Furthermore, this guide also says that dairy is only suggested. Would this be indirectly admitting that perhaps humans shouldn't be consuming dairy? Although they don't come right out and say it, vegetarianism is also accepted - by saying that meat alternatives are fine, but this has been in the guide for quite some time already. The lack of emphasis on dairy is new, though, and I, for one, appreciate it.
I am hoping that Canada will follow this lead as I believe that it will help avoid reaching the same rate of obesity as the Americans.
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Vote #2! Thanks for the information, especially on dairy! So, are you from Canada?
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Yup, I'm Canadian!
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#3. Recently I have learned that broccoli, kale and cauliflower all have to be cooked before we eat them because of the chemicals that they have in them that could be dangerous to our thyroid gland. So I eat them cooked. However for the vegetables that we could have raw, I think juicing is way under estimated in the nutrition field. I have done a few meals of that for myself and I detoxed my body and was full of energy. Thanks for the info.
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Juicing fasts are also underestimated. I agree. Our body also needs the break from all the work required to digest food, as well as all the nutrients. Thanks for the vote!
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voted. If you think about it, milk is pretty gross. liquid from a cow.
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From another species... ew. I'm still wondering who got the idea to do this in the first place... When you think about it, why in the world would someone get the idea to drink from another animal's udders?
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Voted. Very interesting article. I commend Michelle Obama for her involvement in this too, and I believe she also campaigns against fur, so I like her for that, if nothing else.
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Thanks for the vote!
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Love it! We have been lied to for way too long.. the meat, milk and sugar companies are making a 'killing' with the word "killing" emphasized! They have been slowly killing us for generations and it is only getting worse! It Never was "normal' to drink from another species, or to even drink Milk past infant-hood, it's simply only for 'fast growth' in our first year (or few years) of life, after that we don't even produce the 'lactase' it takes to break down the 'lactose' -so its true to say that all people are actually 'lactose intolerant' some just suffer more and sooner. The damage is not far behind! I for one am ecstatic that this truth is finally out, now it's all about choice... * I for one see many lawsuits in the future for damages to health and life of many people! We've been deceived for far too long! voted and shared!
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Lawsuits is something I didn't think about, but anyone with type 1 diabetes and certain forms of cancer can definitely start right about now (my brother is the first one I'd like to see on the list). Thanks for the vote!
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Voted #8! It's great to see the world trying to change for the better! I can't wait until being vegan/vegetarian is as accepted as peanut butter and jelly! :-)
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Good info! Check out my cantaloupe popsicles and vote if you like. Packed with fresh fruit:) Voted
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