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July 2015
proteins. It fails to warn consumers that frequent consumption of
red meat, cold cuts and processed
meats is associated with cancer,
heart disease and lower life expectancy.
Fruits and vegetables –
Americans are not eating enough
fruits and vegetables to promote
health and prevent disease.
Researchers agree the healthiest
eating plan includes a wide variety
of fruits and vegetables, focusing
on a rainbow of colors (dark green,
red, yellow, orange) to provide
abundant amounts of anti-oxidants
and phytonutrients, both known
to have special health-promoting
and disease-preventing properties.
The Healthy Eating Plate recommends a wide variety of vegetables to protect against cancer,
heart disease, high blood pressure,
digestive problems and other medical conditions. It advises moderation in using potatoes, which
the body handles as if they were
sugar. The USDA MyPlate fails to
inform consumers that potatoes
are the unhealthiest vegetable
choice (while being the No. 1
vegetable eaten by Americans) and
is especially problematic for people
with diabetes. Our national obsession with the French fry exposes
Americans to excess calories and
unhealthy fats. USDA’s MyPlate
also fails to inform consumers that
whole fruits are healthier than fruit
juices and fruit drinks for a variety
of health reasons, especially in children.
Fats and oils – The Healthy
Eating Plate distinguishes between
healthy and unhealthy fats and oils.
It recommends the moderate use of
olive, canola and other plant oils,
limiting butter use and completely
avoiding trans fat. The USDA
MyPlate fails to warn consumers about the distinct