Low-Fat Dairy Products Can Reduce Disease.

• Position: Brief Article

New dietary guidelines from the American Heart Association recommend two to four servings of low-fat milk products daily--more than most Americans currently consume. The guidelines provide the latest advice of medical and nutrition experts with specific recommendations for eating a balanced diet from all the basic food groups and staying fit through regular exercise.

One of the major goals is to provide an easy-to-follow guide for Americans to achieve an eating pattern that leads to healthy body weight and cholesterol level, and normal blood pressure. "It's important for Americans to know that following these guidelines by eating a balanced diet of nutrient-dense foods, including low-fat dairy, is not only easy, but it may improve their health and even save lives," points out Gregory Miller, vice-president of nutrition research for the National Dairy Council.

The AHA guidelines are based on an analysis of hundreds of studies, including those that have linked an increased consumption of low-fat dairy foods to reductions in high blood pressure, obesity...