Healthy Diet for Men : Dietary patterns are more important

BOSTON, MA — Making changes to what you eat is difficult. Often the barrier to change is a preoccupation with specific choices: Can I have eggs for breakfast? Is oatmeal better than raisin bran? Individual choices are meaningful, but if they fit into a sound overall dietary pattern, there will be plenty of wiggle room, says the July issue of Harvard Men's Health Watch.

A report from Harvard's Health Professionals Follow-up Study examined the effect of dietary patterns, rather than individual foods, on men's health. The results: Men who ate a lot of red meat, processed meat, refined grains, and sweets were 64% more likely to develop heart disease than men with the most prudent diets.