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How the food pyramid contributed to our weight gain

How the Food Pyramid Contributed to Insulin Resistance!
In May 2011, the USDA released a graphic called “My Plate” to help people choose what foods to eat instead of the “Food Pyramid”. The useless and misleading food pyramid, which has been confusing consumers for over 25 years, has advocated a philosophy of eating more grains and other less “fatty” foods. Food Pyramid failed to differentiate simple versus complex sugars and placed undue importance in promoting grain based products. How can the USDA, a government body set up to promote agriculture and promote sale of agricultural commodities be also charged with health recommendations?


Unfortunately, consuming a lot of the grain based “simple carbohydrates” such as breads, potatoes, rice etc. although low in fat, are high in glycemic index and can lead to a phenomenon called “Insulin Resistance”.  Affecting up to one in every three Americans, Insulin Resistance is very common and can lead to difficulty losing weight, pre-diabetes, or type II diabetes, heart disease and other long term health problems associated with obesity.
What is Insulin Resistance?
Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body produces insulin but does not use it properly. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps the body use glucose for energy. When people are insulin resistant, their muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond properly to insulin. 

As a result, their bodies need more insulin to help glucose enter cells. The pancreas tries to keep up with this increased demand for insulin by producing more. Eventually, the pancreas fails to keep up with the body's need for insulin. 

Excess glucose builds up in the bloodstream, setting the stage for diabetes. Many people with insulin resistance have high levels of both glucose and insulin circulating in their blood at the same time. Learning about insulin resistance is the first step toward making lifestyle changes that can help prevent diabetes and other health problems. 

An Obesity medicine physician well versed with medical management of Obesity and Insulin Resistance might be able to help!



Prab R. Tumpati, MD, Sleep and Obesity Medicine

 W8MD's weight loss, sleep, aesthetic & IV nutrition programs. Learn more…
1718 Welsh Road, Philadelphia, PA 19115, USA

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