Synthetic Chemicals in a Balanced Diet

The USDA Food Guide Pyramid (see Appendix 2) recommends that no one food group is more important than another - for good health you need them all. Most people are well aware of the USDA recommendations, but individual choices obviously dictate the degree to which these recommendations are actually followed. For those individuals who attempt to maintain a balanced diet, they must also realize that they will consume a mixture of chemicals that is unique to each food group. Therefore, the chemical diversity of an individual s diet is dictated by the foods they consume. But before we discuss this chemical diversity in our diet, it is necessary to describe the basic types of chemicals to which we are all exposed. 

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The previous discussion has focused on an individual s exposure to synthetic chemicals in a balanced diet, yet many individuals choose to eat only specific foods that fit their lifestyle preferences. Thus, it is important to look at how specific diets can affect an individual s exposure to chemical mixtures. 

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