"Eating Right" - More Studies
Another recent study that has just been published (Reference 4) presents a case for eating whole grain cereal for breakfast. The study tracked more than 21,000 people for almost 20 years. Those who ate whole-grain cerials had a risk reduction for heart failure by a factor of 0.71 (29%), with a margin of error between 0.60 and 0.85 (15% to 40%). No such reduction was observed for people who had cereals made from refined cereals. The authors believe that the benefit is a result of the impact of whole grains on risk factors such as blood pressure, heart attacks, diabetes and obesity.
The American Cancer Institute has published a large review of studies (Reference 5) that attempt to determine the causes of cancer. On page 370 of this report, they present the factors that increase the posssibility of having cancer. They recommend the following:
Be as lean as possible within normal body weight range
Be physically active
Limit consumption of energy-dense foods and sugary drinks
Eat mostly foods of plant origin (non starchy, unrefined)
Limit the intake of meat (less than 18 ounces per week) and avoid processed meat
Limit alcoholic drinks (no more than 2 a day for men, and one a day for women)