Newsflash: the food pyramid was an advertising campaign.
Yep, that diagram that was mounted in every classroom in the Western World that dictated how you ate throughout your entire childhood was a lie. You know, the same diagram that told you to eat 6 – 11 servings of carbs per day (if only) and swore dairy was an integral part of any human’s diet. Although it was backed by research, it was funded by global food giants to present a certain outcome. Because, how are you going to eat 7 servings of cereal per day? Buy a sh*t tonne of Sultana Bran, that’s how.
And although it’s been revised, we’re still a little sceptic because, in today’s world, food is confusing. Should we be counting calories? Are macronutrients or micronutrients more important? Is sugar really that bad? And if we’re not waking up to 12 Weet-Bix anymore, what the hell should we be eating?
According to nutritionist, chemist and pharmacist, Barbara Mendez, an anti-inflammatory diet may be a good place to start. Inflammation has become quite the buzzword in the wellness world, with an increasing body of research linking it to a myriad of diseases. Keeping inflammation at bay can go a long way to improving your overall health.
So, our friends over at Well+Good asked Barbara to create an anti-inflammatory food pyramid to make healthy eating a breeze. She’s popped the foods to eat-a-plenty at the bottom and those to avoid at the top (read: gluten).
Turns out, there’s more to AI eating than sipping golden lattes.
The anti-inflammatory food pyramid base: leafy greens, healthy fats & fermented foods
Unlike the standard food pyramid, which pops healthy fats at the top, Barbara’s version has it right down the bottom. They sit snug alongside leafy greens, which Mendez touts as the most important food to fight inflammation.
Besides leafy greens, the most powerful inflammation-fighting foods are salmon, walnuts, fermented foods—such as kimchi—garlic, and yes, turmeric, she told Well+Good. But how much is enough? “Ideally, you want a serving of fermented foods and walnuts every day, Mendez explains. Salmon can contain mercury, so because of that it’s best to keep it to two servings a week.
As for turmeric and garlic, Mendez says just incorporating them into your cooking or juices should be enough for prevention, but if you want to step things up, you might want to consider a turmeric supplement. To see the rest of the pyramid, jump on over to Well+Good. Hint: it might surprise you.
