Health food and nutrition are not necessarily synonymous with recommendations made by the USDA. For instance, there are three broad choice food pyramids, one leads for its selection of healthy food choices, the second is only half as effective and the third is dubious at best and down right lethal at its worst. What are these food pyramids? The best pyramid for your health is the food pyramid created by the Harvard School of Public Health. Running a distant second is the food pyramid created by our own federal government's Department of Agriculture. The Harvard pyramid reduced the incidence of chronic disease by 11 to 20 percent and heart disease by 30 to 40 percent when followed carefully. Finally, the potentially lethal food pyramid is the one you see stacked on plates at the all you can eat buffet.

While the last pyramid was a joke, it's no joke that the government's recommendations aren't necessarily the healthiest of food selections. They're good and compared to a diet of ice cream and cake, far superior. The history of the food pyramid dates as far back as 1894, when it first made dietary recommendations. Later, the USDA enhanced the guide and published a booklet called, "Food for Young Children." This guide contained the five major food groups of the day. They included milk/meat, fruit/vegetables, cereal, fatty foods/fats and finally sugar/sugary foods.

At that time, scientists knew little about vitamins, minerals and the effect food played on the health of the individual. Sugar and sugary food weren't common fare in the agrarian society. Most people grew their own foods or purchased them from local farmers and they saved sugary products for special occasions so the list worked for the times. People worked hard at physical labor and the fat they consumed didn't have the same effect as it does on our sedentary society. So, while not, excellent, worked for that day and age.

The USDA created the recommended dietary allowances in 1941, announced the "Basic Seven" in 1943, which modified the guidelines to help people cope with food shortages due to the war and finally modified again to the basic four, a change that lasted 20 years. The basic four included milk, fruits and vegetables, meat and foods made from grain and only changed in the late 70's to include one more category, fats, sweets and alcoholic beverages. Now, that category adds an entirely new dimension to the food pyramid. Perhaps the USDA added it by popular demand.

Even though the USDA updated their pyramid, Harvard scientists still don't believe it's right. The major problem with the pyramid, as with most governmental information projects, is that it doesn't keep up with the latest scientific discoveries. The USDA doesn't change some of the inaccurate information as new discoveries take place. Contrary to the contention from the USDA, not all fats are bad, not all complex carbohydrates are good, you don't have to have dairy products in your diet, some forms of protein are better for you than others and potatoes aren't good for you.

The baseline for the Harvard food pyramid is exercise, weight control and balance. Above that are three food groups, fruits and vegetables, healthy oils such as olive oil and whole grains. Moving further up the ladder, you have two separate categories. The first is alternative proteins such as beans, peanut butter and nuts. The second includes fish and fowl. Topping off the main pyramid, with a bottle of vitamins at the side for a reminder, you'll find dairy. Red meat, sugary drinks, refined sugar and grains are the peak of the pyramid and slightly separated to intimate you should use the base more frequently for you fare. A glass of wine to the side indicates a little wine each night has some benefits and some risks, but it's still okay to consume in moderation.

While the USDA updates their recommendations, change is slow. Part of the reason may be due to it being a bureaucracy, which always moves slowly. The other reason may be the effect of strong lobbying groups such as the National Dairy Council. Simplistic governmental charts aren't always the answer. You need to choose carefully when looking for heath food and nutrition.