What foods won't cause health problems?
(Lansing State Journal, April 26, 1995)


There have been many scientific studies on how foods can affect health.  Many show correlations between dietary habits and health.  But these correlations do not prove that a particular food or habit really causes a problem.  The results are most often evidence of a potential problem or benefit.

Foods are composed of a variety of chemical substances.  Some like starch, are easily digestible; others, such as cellulose, can't be digested fully.

Some substances, such as vitamins and minerals, promote good health.  Others, such as burnt and rancid fat, many be detrimental in the long term.

Most foods contain at least some toxic or carcinogenic substances, but they represent only a small fraction of the food consumed.  It is important to realize that most of these substances (including caffeine, theobromine and quinones) are natural products and not residues of pesticides or fertilizers.  A healthy diet cannot avoid them.

Now, what to do? Eat a balanced diet.  The body needs a variety of nutrients, vitamins and minerals to stay healthy.  Some essential nutrients include certain fatty acids, amino acids and complex carbohydrates.  A normal diet should include a balance of fat, protein and carbohydrates.  You can get vitamins and minerals by eating a  mixture of foods, and supplements are often not necessary.  The rule of moderation generally applies: don't eat too much of any one thing.

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