Food plays a fundamental role in people's lives. The food people eat has an immense impact on their health and well-being. (Food Diseases) As James Douglas-Hamilton said, “what we eat is, of course, what we choose to eat, and that must always be the case” (Douglas-Hamilton, 1996, p3). However, people should always be conscious of their food choices. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The number one enemy of a healthy diet is, of course, sugar. Today, sugar dominates the food economy. It is a well-known fact that sugar is highly addictive and can lead to obesity, heart disease or even cancer. Sugar is as addictive as a class A drug and is found in most foods consumed today. In order to guide people towards 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 remains unchanged. The food pyramid represents a graphic explanation of what and how often people should eat certain types of foods in order to reduce the risk of diet-related diseases. The pyramid has five levels which follow very simple rules. If the food is in the lower layers, this means that it can be eaten 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 the human diet, as they all contribute to a balanced diet. The Food Pyramid emphasizes 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 elements go hand in hand with protein-rich foods, such as milk, yogurt and cheese, which are represented in the third layer of the pyramid, and meat, fish, eggs and poultry which fill the fourth layer of the pyramid. Food pyramid. The top layer illustrates foods and drinks high in saturated fat, which are the “enemies” of a good diet and should be consumed rarely and in very small quantities. The Food Pyramid was the guideline created to improve the quality of life. This gives the opportunity for diversity, where people can choose and combine foods from each group, based on individual preferences. The lowest layer of the pyramid is represented by fruits and vegetables. These two should be consumed daily, as they “supply” the human body with vitamins, minerals and fiber. In addition, they are very low in calories. Fruits and vegetables should be eaten raw, between five and seven times a day. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized document from our expert writers now. Get a Personalized Essay In order to get the daily carbohydrate intake, people should move up one level on the pyramid and consume cereals, potatoes, pasta and rice.