Dr. Randal Thomas of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota presented one of several studies at an American Heart Association meeting (03/04) on nutrition and heart disease. All the studies showed the same thing -- Americans eat too much overall, they eat too much fat, and they do not eat enough fruits, vegetables and high-fiber foods.

Americans are eating more fat and cholesterol as "low-carb" diets grow in popularity, but people do not seem to be losing weight and they are putting their health at risk, says Dr. Thomas. He warned, if the trend continues toward more fat and fewer vegetables and grains, Americans could suffer more heart disease, already the No. 1 killer in the country.

Low fat diet guru, Dr. Dean Ornish, is well known for his recommended diet of lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and beans, and no fatty dairy products or meats. The problem is, many Americans are ignoring the message. Today, more than 60% of Americans are overweight, half of whom are obese, putting their health at risk. Yet the fat trend is ever expanding.

"There has been a bit of a backlash against not only just low-fat eating, but healthy living in general," says Ornish. The benefits of a low-fat diet include reversing heart disease and reducing the risk of developing cancer.

Yet, facts and figures are not enough to change eating habits. Ornish claims his low-fat diet will make people feel better and infuse them with more energy too. It’s just not enough!