The Truth about the NIH Food Compass Recommendations

At Crist Chiropractic, we understand the importance of a healthy diet in maintaining overall wellness. That’s why we were concerned to hear about the new food compass recommendations from the NIH National Institute of Health.

These recommendations, funded by the NIH, seem to promote packaged and processed foods, as well as artificial flavors over real, whole foods.

Bottom Line:

As healthcare providers, we find these recommendations to be perplexing and difficult to understand. Foods like beef, eggs, and other items found on the perimeter of the grocery store are nutrient-dense and provide essential protein for our bodies, yet they are rated lower than processed and packaged foods in the food compass.

Additionally, many packaged foods contain unhealthy seed oils, artificial flavors, and dyes that have been proven to be unhealthy.

Furthermore, we are concerned that these recommendations may lead to misguided dietary guidelines and inform school lunch programs, which have been linked to higher rates of obesity in children.

It is also alarming that medical professionals may rely on these findings when making recommendations to their patients, despite the fact that 80% of medical schools have zero required nutrition training.

The explosion of chronic illness and healthcare costs in our country is a major concern, and it is clear that a poor food environment and misguided health and nutrition guidelines have played a significant role.

It is also concerning that these recommendations may have been influenced by funding from organizations such as Big Food and Agriculture.

Why It Matters:

At Crist Chiropractic, we encourage our patients to make informed decisions about their food choices. We recommend shopping “on the outside perimeter” of the grocery store and minimize the inside aisles, which are often filled with packaged, processed, and artificial foods.

Eating a diet rich in whole, nutrient-dense foods is essential for maintaining good health and preventing chronic illness.

We urge the NIH and Tufts University to re-evaluate their findings and consider the potential impact they may have on the health and well-being of individuals who follow them.

Next Steps:

At Crist Chiropractic, we are dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles and helping our patients achieve optimal wellness in the Franklin, TN and Cool Springs area.

Dr. Jason Crist and his team at Crist Chiropractic are here to provide top-notch care for our patients and being a chiropractor in the area, we believe it’s important to educate our patients about the latest health information and trends.

Schedule an appointment to see how we can help!