America’s focus on nutritious eating began to receive national attention in the 1940s when President Roosevelt introduced the RDA or Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) model. This model which took on the shape of a pyramid in the 1980s (and hence now goes by the term “food pyramid”) has gone through a number of iterations since its inception more than 60 years ago[i].
This change and evolution of the RDA model is in many respects a positive step. It demonstrates that just as America’s information on diet and nutrition is advancing so too are the models that guide its eating habits. In fact the USDA itself has decided to update the term and now refers to “RDI’s” (“Reference Daily Intake”) instead of RDA’s.
However undermining some of this positive change is the fact that many Americans are increasingly confused over what how and when to eat. A survey conducted by the USDA in 1996 verified this fact when 40% of respondents agreed strongly with the statement that “there are so many recommendations about healthy ways to eat it’s hard to know what to believe”[ii].
One of the most serious expressions of this growing dietary confusion has to do with a concept called the Daily Value or “DV”. Introduced by the USDA in the 1990s the DV is a dietary numerical reference that is supposed to allow people to make healthy eating choices[iii].
The philosophical idea behind the DV which is expressed as a percentage is that it provides a very important piece of information. The DV informs consumers how much of a nutrient they are getting from a particular food item. For example if the DV label on a can of beans declares that it represents “10% of the DV for fat” then consumers can keep track of that number to know if throughout the day how much fat they are eating[1].
However one does not have to be a mathematician or a dietician to see that the above idea begs a significant question: is this10% of the DV for fat “good” or is it “bad”? In other words should a consumer choose this source of fat because it represents a good source of fat or avoid it for the opposite reason?
It is this question that has caused so much confusion among health-conscious consumers. It has caused particular anxiety among those who are wisely ensuring that they eat the recommended daily allowance for protein.
The importance of protein in diet cannot be understated. It is not simply an essential macronutrient for athletes such as bodybuilders and runners. Protein is critical for life itself regardless of mobility or athleticism. Among other essential functions protein maintains and repairs muscle tissue aids digestion regulates chemicals manages hormones and produces enzymes[iv]. In extreme cases a dangerous lack of protein actually leads to a condition called Kwashiorkor where the body cannibalizes itself[2].
Trying to determine the right amount of protein – as expressed in terms of DV% -- has been a difficult challenge for most eaters. Unfortunately as a result of this confusion some consumers have not been eating high quality protein. This is because the DV number is simply not enough information upon which they can make healthy protein eating ...
Next page