Jan 2003 SciAm: Rebuilding the Food Pyramid:
Can we show that our pyramid is healthier than the USDA’s? We created a new Healthy Eating Index that measured how closely a person’s diet followed our recommendations. Applying this revised index to our epidemiological studies, we found that men and women who were eating in accordance with the new pyramid had a lower risk of major chronic disease. This benefit resulted almost entirely from significant reductions in the risk of cardiovascular disease–up to 30 percent for women and 40 percent for men. Following the new pyramid’s guidelines did not, however, lower the risk of cancer. Weight control and physical activity, rather than specific food choices, are associated with a reduced risk of many cancers.
See also: Glycemic Index On-line