Death Pyramid?

Every 5 years since 1980, the USDA has been convening a group of "experts" to decide what American’s should eat. But, unfortunately, it seems our government is no better at balancing our diets than it is at balancing its budget. This year marks another 5 year anniversary of what many refer to as the "death pyramid," guidelines promoting the products of commodity agriculture (with a heavy emphasis on grains) while warning against nutrient-dense animal products such as eggs, whole milk, cheese, butter, meat, and organ meats. (Picture from Nourishing Our Children)

Personally I find it insulting in and of itself that my government feels the need to dictate my diet. But to add injury to insult the guidelines are a recipe for health disaster.

Some on the committee have expressed concerns over widespread deficiencies in the American diet of such essential nutrients as fat-soluble vitamins A, D, K, and E. WAPF President Sally Fallon states, "There is no way for Americans to consume sufficient quantities of these critical vitamins while confined to the low-fat, low-saturated fat, low-cholesterol, low-calorie cage of the USDA dietary guidelines."

Choline deficiency is another area of great concern. Choline is very important for neuro-development, without it during prenatal and developmental stages, brain connections can not form. Choline is essential for brain function and memory. The recommended daily amount of choline can be provided by 4 or 5 egg yolks per day, but that would equal 800-1000mg cholesterol, much higher than the 300mg per day limit recommended by the committee. Chicken liver and beef liver are also excellent sources of choline, but again we are warned against these nutrient-dense foods as being too high in cholesterol and vitamin A.

Sally Fallon comments, “… while we watch in horror the blighting of our children's lives with failure to thrive, learning disorders, attention deficit disorder, autism, mental retardation, the committee is sticking to its anti-cholesterol guns. Truly, we have sacrificed our children on the altar of Baal, and the USDA has wielded the knife." (Read whole article here.)

Sally and I are in agreement on the proper response to these government guidelines; return to the kitchen and prepare real food. Take revenge by living "longer happier lives than the government 'experts'."

At our house we have increased our intake of choline and fat soluble vitamins by adding raw egg yolks from pastured hens to smoothies. We also like them mixed into whole fat raw milk with a little vanilla flavor . This tastes really rich and good (think eggnog).