The Japanese have lower rates of prostate and breast cancer than the U.S., a fact attributed to their greater intake of soy and low-fat foods.

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But one of the long recognised problems of low-fat foods is how they are used: the fewer the calories, the more you can eat, the mantra goes for some.

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No sooner had heavily advertised sweets and snacks taken their toll on the waistlines of those who could afford to indulge than slimming came into vogue, creating a market for dieting aids and low-fat foods as lucrative as that for the products that had caused the weight problem in the first place.

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Half made no change in their diets, while the other half increased calcium from low-fat dairy foods to about 1500 milligrams a day.

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Still, if you're trying to limit saturated fat in your diet by enjoying low- and fat-free foods, the trade-off may be worth it if you limit sodium in other areas.

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The claim states that a diet rich in whole-grain foods and low in saturated fat and cholesterol may help reduce the risk of heart disease.

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Wall Street says this "crisis" is creating fat opportunities for companies pushing low-carb foods.

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The staples of the Volumetrics plan -- water-rich foods like brothy soups, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, lean meat, and fish -- not only help control hunger by filling you up, but they also do it on fewer calories.

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Make sure that you eat lots of nutrient-dense foods such as whole grains, low-fat dairy and brightly colored fruits and vegetables, both for your health and your baby's.

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Foods that are higher in fiber or water, like soup, non-starchy vegetables, and low-fat dairy, have much lower caloric densities, so if your daughter's appetite is limited, these foods should be minimized somewhat as they may fill her up without providing enough calories to help her gain weight.

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So retro foods -- which are often minimally processed, easy to eat, and so low in calories and fat they're almost guaranteed to work -- appeal to them, Lempert adds.

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