OPINION:
Reading Fredrik Nystrom’s recent op-ed on various types of diets and their possible impact on our health reinforced the three conclusions I have come to over the years on this subject (“Why endurance exercise, low-fat eating may be bad for you,” Web, July 20).
One, it is almost impossible to reach any statistically relevant conclusions beyond those that we would reach through applying simple common sense. Too much alcohol, obesity and smoking are bad.
Two, excesses — such as 10 cups of coffee a day or eating nothing but Big Macs for 30 days — are probably bad. And three, so what’s good? The answer to that may also just be a matter of common sense: a little of everything.
Variation and moderation may be the healthiest diet achievable, but that doesn’t make for interesting studies!
JERRY O’SHAUGHNESSY
Vienna, Virginia
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