This may be most important breakthrough in nutrition knowledge I have seen since vitamin C and E. Please see the book The China Study, published in 2004, for the whole-food, plant-based diet for optimal health

AJCN Mar, 2006

[Dairy reduces colon cancer risk] James C Fleet Dairy consumption and the prevention of colon cancer: is there more to the story than calcium? – Platz et al (1) estimated that >70% of colon cancer risk is preventable through a combination of dietary and lifestyle changes. Over the past decade, a number of studies reported that colon cancer risk is reduced by high dietary calcium consumption; eg, an intervention trial conducted in patients from whom a colorectal adenoma had recently been removed found that supplementation with 1200 mg calcium/d reduced the risk of advanced colorectal lesions (2). [from article in same issue: Conclusion: Our findings provide support for inverse associations between intakes of calcium and dairy foods and the risk of colorectal cancer.] [what beverages to drink-water, plain tea and coffee, a bit of alcohol] Balz Frei, Walter C Willett et al, A new proposed guidance system for beverage consumption in the United States – Over the past several decades, levels of overweight and obesity have increased across all population groups in the United States. Concurrently, an increased daily intake of 150–300 kcal (for different age-sex groups) has occurred, with approximately 50% of the increased calories coming from the consumption of calorically sweetened beverages. The panel ranked beverages from the lowest to the highest value based on caloric and nutrient contents and related health benefits and risks. Drinking water was ranked as the preferred beverage to fulfill daily water needs and was followed in decreasing value by tea and coffee, low-fat (1.5% or 1%) and skim (nonfat) milk and soy beverages, noncalorically sweetened beverages, beverages with some nutritional benefits (fruit and vegetable juices, whole milk, alcohol, and sports drinks), and calorically sweetened, nutrient-poor beverages. The Panel recommends that the consumption of beverages with no or few calories should take precedence over the consumption of beverages with more calories.

[breastfeeding best] Breastfeeding, introduction of complementary foods, and adiposity at 5 y of age
Hillary L Burdette et al – Objective: The objective was to ascertain whether adiposity at age 5 y was related to breastfeeding, to the timing of the introduction of complementary foods during infancy, or to both…Conclusion: Neither breastfeeding nor the timing of the introduction of complementary foods was associated with adiposity at age 5 y.

[another possible benefit of vitamin C] Associations of vitamin C status, fruit and vegetable intakes, and markers of inflammation and hemostasis S Goya Wannamethee et al – Conclusion: The findings suggest that vitamin C has antiinflammatory effects and is associated with lower endothelial dysfunction in men with no history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes.

[raising level of omega-3 fatty acids is important to health] Mediterranean-inspired diet lowers the ratio of serum phospholipid n–6 to n–3 fatty acids, the number of leukocytes and platelets, and vascular endothelial growth factor in healthy subjects – Anneli Ambring et al – Conclusions: A Mediterranean-inspired diet reduces the number of platelets and leukocytes and vascular endothelial growth factor concentrations in healthy subjects. This may be linked to higher serum concentrations of n–3 fatty acids, which promote a favorable composition of phospholipids.

[proper diet as effective as statin drugs] Assessment of the longer-term effects of a dietary portfolio of cholesterol-lowering foods in hypercholesterolemia – David JA Jenkins et al – Conclusions: More than 30% of motivated participants who ate the dietary portfolio of cholesterol-lowering foods under real-world conditions were able to lower LDL-cholesterol concentrations >20%, which was not significantly different from their response to a first-generation statin taken under metabolically controlled conditions. [See book The China Study, 2004 for optimum whole-food, plant-based diet for optimal health] [to reduce cholesterol] ß-Glucan incorporated into a fruit drink effectively lowers serum LDL-cholesterol concentrations- Elke Naumann et al – Conclusions: ß-Glucan lowers serum concentrations of total and LDL cholesterol when incorporated into a fruit drink. A reduced cholesterol absorption contributes to the cholesterol-lowering effect of ß-glucan without affecting plasma concentrations of lipid-soluble antioxidants.

[Olestra hazard] Olestra is associated with slight reductions in serum carotenoids but does not markedly influence serum fat-soluble vitamin concentrations – Marian L Neuhouser et al -… olestra use in adults were associated with circulating carotenoid concentrations that were modestly but significantly lower (4.3% to 22.4%)…

[get enough iron when pregnant] Diet-induced iron deficiency anemia and pregnancy outcome in rhesus monkeys – Mari S Golub et al – Conclusion: These data indicate that an inadequate intake of iron from the diet during pregnancy in rhesus monkeys can lead to compromised hematologic status of the neonate without indications of growth retardation or impaired neurologic function at birth.

[more evidence calcium requirement is very low] Randomized, placebo-controlled, calcium supplementation study in pregnant Gambian women: effects on breast-milk calcium concentrations and infant birth weight, growth, and bone mineral accretion in the first year of life – Landing MA Jarjou et al – Conclusion: Calcium supplementation of pregnant Gambian women had no significant benefit for breast-milk calcium concentrations or infant birth weight, growth, or bone mineral status in the first year of life.

[caffiene aids weight control] Changes in caffeine intake and long-term weight change in men and women- Esther Lopez-Garcia et al – …An increase in coffee and tea consumption was also associated with less weight gain…Conclusion: Increases in caffeine intake may lead to a small reduction in long-term weight gain.

[more evidence calcium requirement is very low] Growth, bone mass, and vitamin D status of Chinese adolescent girls 3 y after withdrawal of milk supplementation- Kun Zhu et al – Conclusion: Milk supplementation during early puberty does not have long-lasting effects on bone mineral accretion.