news release

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APUSDA Food Pyramid: A Pyramid Scheme?Experts decry food industry influence in governmental dietaryrecommendationsBOULDER, CO – The US government has spent a quarter century andcountless millions of dollars promoting a low-fat, high-grain diet asthe optimal model for health and nutrition. But a growing number ofhealth experts assert that the USDA Food Guide Pyramid is unhealthy, andbased more on industry influence than actual science.“Americans’ diets have gone from bad to worse over the past 25 years,and the USDA Food Pyramid is largely to blame,” says R. Eades,MD, a leading nutrition expert. “Given the lack of study behind thisformula and the food industry’s role in how it came to be, perhaps abetter term would be the USDA Pyramid Scheme.”In 1977, the US Senate’s McGovern Select Committee recommended Americans cuttheir fat consumption and eat even more grain. This decision was based ontestimony from scientists, many of whom had strong ties to major US foodproducers, who stood to gain if Americans followed this advice. Despitesound scientific evidence to the contrary and documentation of the foodindustry’s role in biased research, the committee issued its mandate; eatless fat and more grains. This formula has been in effect ever since,reflected in the well-known, well-promoted visual aid known as the USDA FoodGuide Pyramid.“The results have been devastating,” says Dan Eades, MD, who, with Eades co-authored the New York Times bestseller Protein Power andthe Eades’ newest book, Protein Power Lifeplan. “American fat consumptionis now at its all-time low. But over the last decade, obesity has increasedby 30%, pediatric obesity has doubled and type II diabetes is up nearlytwelve-fold. By cutting their fat intake and eating more grain, Americanshave only gotten fatter.”Three out of four people suffer hyperinsulinemia to one degree oranother. In laymen’s terms, this means the body produces excess insulin inresponse to high blood sugar.Bread, rice, pasta and cereal, the foundation of the USDA Food Pyramid, turnto sugar in the bloodstream. Consistent excess insulin leads to obesity,type II diabetes, heart disease and other weight-related illnesses.The Centers for Disease Control released the latest figures on diabetes justlast week, referring to it as an “epidemic” with the potential foroverwhelming health care costs.Drs. and Dan Eades are among a growing number of healthprofessionals putting into practice a new field of scientific researchcalled “paleolithic nutrition” – the diet of early humans. For 2.7million years, humans ate a meat-based diet including little, if any,grain. Evidence shows that obesity, diabetes, heart disease and otherweight-related illnesses did not occur until after the AgriculturalRevolution, at which time humans switched to a grain-based diet. Thesediseases are virtually non-existent among the world’s remaininghunter-gatherer societies.“The reason is simple,” according to Eades. “Meat, fruits andvegetables are what humans were designed to eat. Reams of publishedresearch are out there, both on the benefits of meat and the problemswith grain.” Eades adds, “If Uncle Sam were to recommend we switch to ameat-based diet, he’d be biting the hand that feeds him. The foodindustry’s number one customer is the federal government.”A significant recent example of industry influence can be found in the2000 US Dietary Guidelines. Citing ties between sugar and obesity, USDAscientists recommended the Guidelines encourage Americans to “limit” theirintake of sugars, calling the 1995 recommendation –“Choose a diet moderatein sugar” – too vague. Initially, the new recommendation was approved. Butafter major pressure from sugar interests and 30 US Senators, most of whomrepresented sugar producing states, the USDA acquiesced and, two monthslater, the word “limit” was changed back to “moderate”.Last year’s sugar controversy is not the first time the US governmenthas rejected advice from its own experts. In 1999, two FDA researchscientists tried to prevent that agency from issuing a health claimregarding soy. The researchers cited 28 studies documenting the illeffects of soy, including an increased risk of breast cancer in women,decreased brain function in men and developmental abnormalities ininfants. Despite this somber warning, the FDA went on to issue ahealth claim stating that soy “may reduce the risk of heart disease”.This health claim on soy came after a decade-long marketing campaign bymajor soy producers. Food products “low in saturated fat andcholesterol” and containing just 6.25 grams of soy protein – just overone teaspoon – may cite this health claim on the label.In addition, the USDA has lifted the limit on soy in federallysubsidized school lunches in yet another effort to cut fat consumption.“If you replace meat with soy, you may cut kids’ fat intake,” says DanEades. “The problem is, you’ll also reduce their protein, iron and zincintake. Protein is an absolute necessity for growing bodies, fat isessential for brain development, and zinc is referred to as “theintelligence mineral”. Without it, brain function is reduced,” she added.Experts are also concerned about the USDA’s upcoming test on popularweight loss diets.“The January 11 public hearing on this test says it all,” Eadessays. “Despite the fact that researchers will be looking at thebenefits of both low-fat and low-carb diets, not one low-carb dietexpert was invited to speak at the hearing. Uncle Sam’s bias is alreadyshowing and the study has yet to begin.”The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has already begun work on asimilar study. On January 8, 2001, the US Surgeon General announced ayearlong effort to develop a national action plan to help Americansreduce excess weight, obesity and diabetes. Various other governmentagencies are promoting weight loss campaigns, as well. All federalagencies use the Food Pyramid as their guide and are required by US law todo so.Both government officials and mainstream health experts continue toassert that a diet low in saturated fat and high in complexcarbohydrates can help some people lower their cholesterol and risk ofheart disease. Again, the Eades challenge conventional wisdom.Mike Eades notes that studies “too numerous to mention” show that while alow-fat, starch-based diet may lower a person’s overall cholesterol level,they usually also lower the good HDL cholesterol level and raisetriglycerides, actually increasing cardiovascular risk.“In addition,” says Dan Eades, “a growing body of scientificevidence shows that elevated blood sugar, even within the ‘normal’range, presents a greater risk for coronary heart disease and earlydeath than cholesterol levels.”The Eades are taking their case to Washington, DC, having just sent aformal letter of concern to the USDA.“The food industry is using the federal government to push an unhealthy dieton the country and Americans are paying the price,” says Eades.“It’s a war between profits and health, and 280 million Americans seem to beoutnumbered.”