From:    Madeline Mason said:

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:  The biggest limitation
in the analysis is that each study used different
numbers ofquestions about eating fruits and vegetables.  Not
surprisingly, the study that asked 46 questions found more
fruits/vegetables consumed than the study that used only nine questions.
Unfortunately, this report mixed apples and oranges and didn't even leave us
with lemons.
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Response:
Sure, there are poorly designed studies.   However, there is a convincing
body of evidence indicating the health benefits of eating fresh vegetables
and fruits.  A single study cannot tell us everything, but if we look at the
overall trend, we see evidence for, not against fresh produce consumption.
There have not been no studies to date that I am aware of that point to the
unhealthfulness of eating more fresh produce.

For example:  When 150 scientists reviewed 4500 research studies looking at
the influence of dietary variables on 18 different cancers, vegetables were
found to exert a convincing protective effect for five cancers, a probable
preventive effect for four others, and a possible preventive effect for
another seven.  For fruits the analysis revealed four convincing, four
probable, and four possible preventive relationships. For cereal grains
there were no convincing or probable preventive relationships, and only one
possible preventive effect (for cancer of the esophagus).  (World Cancer
Research Fund & American Institute for Cancer Research, 1997, cited by Eaton
SB and Eaton SB III, ³Evolution, Diet and Health.²)
      
 Sadly, surveys reveal that only 17 percent of Americans eat three to five
USDA servings of fruits or vegetables per day (mostly as potatoes and potato
products, tomatoes and tomato products, lettuce, oranges and orange juice).
And yet five-a-day is not enough to provide adequate amounts of the
essential nutrients and protective co-factors required for optimal health.
(A USDA serving is 1/2 cup cooked or raw vegetables or 1 cup leafy raw
vegetables; a serving of fruit consists of 1 medium apple, banana, or
orange, 1/2 grapefruit, 1 melon wedge, 3/4 cup juice, 1/2 cup berries or 1/4
cup dried fruit.)   Fresh vegetables truly are one of the missing links in
most modern diets. 

Although some people seem to want to lump fruit in the same category as
sugar, and thus consider it harmful, because fruit is carbohyrate rich,
fruit and refined sugar are clearly not the same "animal."  If you eat fresh
fruit you get vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber, as well as other
undiscovered constituents.  If one eats high fructose corn sweetener, white
or brown sugar, or sucanat, he or she does not take in all the as yet
identified and unidentified constituents of the whole fruit. He or she takes
in isolated sugar, devoid of nutritious co-factors.   It is certianly not
the case that most people in American are sick from eating too much fruit.
Most people do not even eat 5 USDA servings or produce per day.  Most people
are getting their sugars from refined, processed, denatured, fabricated
foods: soda, sugared flavored milks, alcohol, and other sweetened beverages,
candies, cookies, cakes, pies, doughnuts, pastries, sweetened condiments,
refined fluffy white breads, ice cream, frozen yogurt, and a long list of
other de-natured, highly processed foodstuffs!

Rachel (writing for Rachel & Don)