Diet plays a fundamental role in people's lives. The food people eat has an immense impact on their health and well-being. (Food-related illnesses) As James Douglas-Hamilton said, “what we eat is, of course, what we choose to eat, and it must always be so” (Douglas-Hamilton, 1996, p3). However, people should still be mindful of their food choices. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The number one enemy of a healthy diet is, of course, sugar. Nowadays, sugar dominates the food economy. It is well known that sugar is a highly addictive substance and can lead to obesity, heart disease and even cancer. Sugar is as addictive as a class A drug and is found in most food consumed today. To guide people to lead a healthy life, the Food Pyramid was created. It was first published in Sweden in 1974. Although there is a significant difference between the one published in 1974 and the current one, the concept has remained unchanged. The Food Pyramid represents a graphical explanation of what and how often people should consume certain types of foods to reduce the risk of diet-related diseases. The pyramid has five layers, which follow very simple rules. If the food is found in the lower layers it means that it can be consumed more often and in larger quantities. The top of the pyramid represents ailments that should be consumed in smaller quantities. However, no food should be excluded from people's diet, as they all contribute to a balanced diet. The Food Pyramid emphasizes the fact that a nutritional diet is based on balance, variation and moderation. A healthy diet starts with grains, fruits and vegetables because they are low in saturated fat, sugar, sodium and cholesterol. These three go hand in hand with high protein foods, such as milk, yogurt and cheese, which are represented in the third layer of the pyramid, and meat, fish, eggs, poultry which fill the fourth layer of the pyramid. Food pyramid. The top layer illustrates foods and drinks rich in saturated fats, which are the "enemies" of good nutrition and which should be consumed rarely and in very small quantities. The Food Pyramid was the guideline created to improve the quality of life. It offers the possibility of diversity, where people can choose and combine food from each group, according to individual preferences. The lowest layer of the pyramid is represented by fruits and vegetables. These two should be consumed daily, as they “provide” the human body with vitamins, minerals, fiber. Furthermore, they have a very low calorie content. Fruits and vegetables should be eaten raw, between five and seven times a day. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay To get your daily carbohydrate intake, people should move one layer higher on the pyramid and consume grains, potatoes, pasta, and rice.