Family Living Focus by Frances Alloway Delaware Co. Cooperative Extension What’s Up With The Food Guide Pyramid? The Food Guide Pyramid for Americans has been receiving a lot of criticism lately. When the pyramid was introduced in 1992, it had already been recalled and retooled. However, it was the first food guide in the United States to address the swelling research linking diet to disease by ranking the food groups. The “Basic Four” Food Groups Guide had first been in troduced in 19S8 and although other guides came and went, the simplicity of the Basic Four rec ommendations made it hard to replace. While it appears that diet rec ommendations come and go with the wind, most are based on ex tensive research with large popu lations. The prevalence of heart disease and its high morbidity rate in Americans was the focus when the pyramid was intro duced. At that time, high fat in take was linked to high cholester ol levels and increased risk for heart disease. High fat intake was also linked to certain types of cancer and obesity. It was observed that most pop ulations, including Americans take in most of their calories from carbohydrates which in clude the grain group at the bot tom of the pyramid and the fruits and vegetables. Populations who base their diets on grain intake such as Asians, Africans and oth ers have not been seen to exhibit the same rates of heart disease and obesity. Because carbohydrates contain less than half the calories as fats, it appeared that the substitution of equal fat intake with carbohy drates would lessen calories taken in and let a person lose weight or eat more. From these recommendations arose the explosion of bagels, pasta and low fat versions of a myriad of foods dur ing the last 10 years. Careful label reading reveals that some of these foods, while lower in fat, are not lower in calories. This simplistic approach to weight loss misled many to overeat car bohydrates and disre gard portions, leading us to the present epi demic of obesity in the United States. Many of the food guide pyramid critics feel that the lowest group on the pyramid, the cereals, grains and pasta, should be re placed with the fruit and vegetable tier. Ex tremists such as those Atkins Diet zealots, have even suggested that the Meat, Fish and Protein group be the base of the pyra mid. Many physicians are skeptical of advo cating this diet which restricts carbohydrates to less than 20 percent of calories (present recommendations call for 50-60 percent of total calories eaten). Carbohydrates are the sole fuel for the brain and nervous system. Until recently, no formal re search had tested the Atkins diet but the latest research presented by Eric Westman, an internist at Duke pitted the Atkins diet against the American Heart As sociation Step 1 diet, a widely used low-fat approach. Results for the 120 participants showed greater weight loss (31 pounds versus 20) and improvement of some blood lipid \alues over six months. Research involving greater numbers and longer peri ods of time are examining this subject further. Not everyone needs to lose weight and research in essential nutrients done in the 19th and 20th centuries has taught us that we need a variety of foods in our diet each day to avoid nutritional deficiencies and diseases. Eating the pyramid way will meet these needs. The food guide pyramid is presently being reviewed by those who created it the United States Department of Agricul ture, Human Nutrition Informa tion Service. Comments are being accepted from the public. If you would like to express your opinion regarding how a revised pyramid might ap pear, contact Carole Davis (Carole.Davis@cnpp.usda.gov) at the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. Lancaster Farming's Classified Ads Get Results! FOR SALE BY OWNER ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY 1950’s STYLE CAFE AND GARAGE Unique cafe, garage, and home all In one. Cafe and garage is a newly con structed 3200 sq. ft. building built in 2001 .The building is designed in the 50’s style. Garage has a car lift and a wash/recon bay. Cafe has indoor seating for 41 and outside area for picnic tables. Cafe offers a full service menu with takeouts. Included is a 2 story, 4 bedroom home and a recently renovated barn. House has a new well, roof, septic system and electric service. The property is fenced with a new hi-tensil, electric fence. This established turnkey operation is located on 8 1/2 acres with over 1000 feet of creek frontage in a peaceful setting in beautiful Juniata County, Pa. The business would be ideal as a family operation. This is a great opportuni ty to live where you work. Alternately, the business could be operated and the house rented out for income Has a lot of potential for growth such as a bed and breakfast and/or a campground by the creek If you ever dreamed of Own ii o'*" ismess, don’t miss this ' •vti COLUMBUS, Ohio—A strong, healthy marriage isn’t a matter of luck or romance, says Ted Futris, family life specialist for Ohio State University Extension. It takes work and compatibility. “Some factors that contribute to a healthy relationship are stat- ic—they’re things you can’t really change,” Futris said. “Others are things that are dynamic—things that you can work on to improve your relationship.” Either way, they’re important to know for anyone who is married or is thinking of marriage, he said. Marriage Week USA is Feb. 7-14, and Futris hopes couples will take some time during that week to improve their relation ship. Futris, a founding member of the Columbus Marriage Coali tion, shares 10 indicators of a good relationship: •Fostering good communica tion. Happy couples talk to each other, and they listen to each other. The best communicators recognize when outside distrac tions or emotional states are at work to prevent good commu nication, and find ways to work through them when both part ners are ready. •Resolving conflict in a posi tive way. According to the Coali tion for Marriage, Family and Couples Education, habitual avoidance of conflict is the No. 1 predictor of divorce. Strong rela tionships are earmarked by a couple’s ability to handle dis agreements in a positive manner. •Having realistic expectations. When people first meet, they put their best foot forward and try to SHILLINGTON (Berks Co.) The Southeast Pennsylvania Branch of the Quality Deer Manage ment Association (SEPAADMA) donated 606 pounds of food during the annual Hunters Sharing the Harvest evening Jan. 30 at the Governor Mifflin Intermediate School, Shillington. Meat contributors also donated $560 in cash, canned goods, and boxed goods to the Salvation Emergency Shelter and the Berks Regional Food Bank. SIKKING BROS. GLADIOLUS GROWERS 4158 Post Road Vineland, NJ 08360 ’]*■( V»/ 856/691-9167 • Fax: 856/696-0077 &*/t on fax ux fan pUeex A ttonx ittfa. Ten Indicators of a Healthy Marriage Hunters Feed The Hungry mask their flaws. This is normal, but couples should realize that as time goes on, the “real” person will emerge. Relationships devel op over time, but unrealistic ex pectations of a partner, or of a re lationship, can cause undue stress. •Paying attention to details of your partner’s life. People in strong marriages know their partner well. They know major events in their partner’s past, and they know each other’s likes, dis likes, hopes and worries. And, they keep updating this informa tion as their partner’s world changes. •Experiencing more positive interactions than negative ones. Some research indicates that suc cessful marriages have five times as many positive interactions as negative ones. Giving positive re sponses to a partner’s bid for at tention—whether it’s a question, an extended hand, or just a glance—strengthens the relation ship. •Building trust. Trust develops slowly, but it is fostered by com municating honestly and follow ing through on promises. •Spending time together. Shar ing experiences is a good way to build a relationship. Couples who enjoy doing things togeth er—rather than feeling obligated or forced into doing things to gether—have a stronger, health ier relationship. Every Farmer Deserves A Good Night’s Sleep! 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Partners need to be able to talk about these changes and find ways to adapt to them. These are just some indicators of healthy relationships, Futris said. To learn more, a free on-line newsletter, “Marriage Matters,” is available through Ohio State University Extension at http:// hec.osu.edu/famlife/ marriagematters/. Additional in formation is available through the Web site of the Coalition for Marriage, Family and Couples Education, http://www. smartmarriages.com. ftfCOpnu*o tyWSS S hT^MIRURPEDIC PRESSURE RELIEVING SWEDISH MATTRESS AND PILLOW Free Delivery within 30 Miles, Delivery Available beyond 30 miles and to neighboring states or stop by when in the area and get a discount for pickup
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