New Food Pyramid Released By Australian Health Sector

A new food pyramid had been released by Nutrition Australia that aims to provide a concise information regarding the the five most important food groups. This was released to give Australians a guide on what they should be eating daily for them to have a balanced diet. Because of the numerous fad diets springing out, health care professionals are quite worried that the public are faced with confusing and contradicting information about correct nutrition.

The new pyramid provides clearer advice on the five core food groups we should aim to eat every day for a healthy and balanced diet. “The new pyramid cuts through the misleading information and fad diets that are getting so much attention, and provides Australians with a credible, flexible and realistic guide to eating well,” said Executive Officer Lucinda Hancock from the Nutrition Australia Vic Division.

According to data from health surveys, that over a third of of the energy intake of Australians are sourced from junk foods, whilst only less than 7 percent consume vegetables and half eat ample amounts of fruits. Hancock said the key to healthy diet does not mean cutting down on particular food sources, as this can also result in undesirable outcomes. Following a rigid diet plan may not work as nutrient deficiencies and yoyo dieting may develop.

The old model of the food pyramid consisted of three separate food groups; the first layer or the “must-eat” group consisted of plant-based sources such as fruits, vegetable and legumes; the second layer, which is recommended for moderate consumption, comprised of dairy sources; and the last, which should be eaten sparingly, consisted of fats and sugars.

The new food pyramid now has five layers to provide a more specific and detailed information about the food groups. Furthermore, the new model encourages the public to drink more water, limit sugar and salt intake and to add natural herbs in place of salt in dishes.

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